The Las Vegas Raiders had one of the worst defenses in the NFL in 2024, surrendering 25.5 points per game (25th) and 333.1 yards per game (14th), which was at least part of the reason for their struggles last year.
With that knowledge, the Raiders made a ton of big changes, including at head coach and general manager. However, they decided to keep on Patrick Graham, who has been the team's defensive coordinator since 2022.
On Graham's side of the ball, they allowed 11 veterans sign elsewhere or remain unsigned on the market, while they brought in seven free agents who finished the year with other teams. That includes multiple changes at linebacker.
While Las Vegas may have a bunch of new contributors for 2025, they may still be looking for more opportunities to improve their roster. Interestingly, Bleacher Report's Moe Moton recently identified the Raiders as a top landing spot for free-agent linebacker Germaine Pratt.
Pratt, 29, played at NC State from 2014-18, earning All-ACC honors in his final year before the Cincinnati Bengals selected him in the third round (No. 72 overall) of the 2019 NFL draft.
As a rookie, Pratt stared as a backup but quickly found more playing time later in the year, taking over as a starter from there. In six seasons with the Bengals, he appeared in 96 games and started 88 while recording 616 tackles (32 for a loss), 23 passes defensed, 10 quarterback hits, seven interceptions, seven force fumbles, five fumbles recovered and 3.5 sacks.
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As Pratt was entering the final year of a three-year, $20.25 million deal in 2025, he was only set to make $5.25 million in base salary and $250,000 in per-game roster bonuses.
Looking for a new deal earlier this offseason, he requested a trade from Cincinnati, but they waited until June to release him, officially making him a free agent on Tuesday.
With two newcomers, Devin White and Elandon Roberts, already expected to start for Las Vegas in 2025 at linebacker, Pratt may be able to rotate in as a third guy at the position. He could even take over for Roberts on obvious passing downs. It's hard to find that kind of talent this late in the offseason.
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