Sportsnaut
The Las Vegas Raiders have a much brighter outlook heading into the 2025 season after moving on from the inexperienced Antonio Pierce and hiring former Super Bowl winner Pete Carroll as head coach. Perhaps more importantly, the Raiders have a franchise quarterback in two-time Pro Bowler Geno Smith.
Now they’re upgrading the defense too.
According to multiple reports, the Raiders have signed the recently released former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt to a one-year contract worth up to $4.25 million. Pratt has started 88 of the 96 games he’s appeared in, peaking last season with 143 tackles and two interceptions.
Yet, the 29-year-old wanted a raise and the Bengals kept their ground before eventually deciding him to set his own market in free agency earlier this week. Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported that Pratt had a “very hot” market with “several” teams showing interest in him before the Raiders got the 6-foot-3, 250-pound linebacker under contract.
However, the Raiders may not be done adding to defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s defense. According to ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, the Raiders are also hosting former Pro Bowl cornerback Shaquill Griffin too. Griffin spent last season with the Minnesota Vikings, who had the NFL’s fifth-ranked scoring defense.
Related: Las Vegas Raiders: 3 players who could turn into training camp holdouts, including Jakobi Meyers
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