The Indianapolis Colts are thin at the linebacker position.
All-Pro Zaire Franklin returns, but they lost starter E.J. Speed and backup Grant Stuard in free agency.
Currently, it’s just late-round draft pick Jaylon Carlies and fellow backup Segun Olubi lined up for bigger roles.
Indy is in prime position to seek out a better linebacker, and there is a trade candidate that makes sense.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton has suggested the Colts should go after Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt.
Pratt requested a trade earlier this offseason. Better yet, he has a connection with the Colts new defensive coordinator, Lou Anarumo, who was just in the same role with Cincinnati.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Pratt, who turns 29 in May, is entering the final year of his contract, so his price shouldn’t be too high.
He is coming off a season with a career-high 143 tackles, including five tackles for loss.
Pratt has also intercepted two passes apiece in each of the last three seasons.
If the Bengals cave in and are willing to trade him, the Colts are a logical destination.
Cincinnati, on the flip side, is not in a great position defensively. The Bengals have already devoted tons of money to the offensive side of the ball, and Trey Hendrickson’s future isn’t yet resolved.
Trading Pratt would mean signing up for an even worse defense in the short term, which might not be the best way for the Bengals to maximize the prime years of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. So stay tuned on this one. Nothing is a done deal yet.
MORE NFL NEWS:
Read the full article here
