Regarding one of their top defensive players, the Cincinnati Bengals must face a difficult choice.

On both sides of the ball, the Cincinnati Bengals must pay a number of excellent players. You have to decide which stars to pay and which to let go of, though, because you have so many stars. The Bengals are “likely” to cut top linebacker Germaine Pratt before the 2025 season starts, according to The Athletic. In the past, Pratt has asked for a trade, but the team hasn’t been successful.

It was somewhat unexpected that Pratt was not selected as a Pro Bowler, but he has been outstanding for the Bengals, particularly this past season. With 143 total tackles at the end of the season, he tied for 10th place in the NFL. In addition, he demonstrated his versatility by getting to the quarterback five times and demonstrating his ball-hawking abilities with two interceptions. Trey Hendrickson, an edge rusher, is another defensive player that the Bengals have been reluctant to pay. It could be time for the squad to start over and rebuild that side of the ball from the ground up because they gave up the eighth-most yards last season.

The Bengals will be releasing a contract that they don’t appear to be willing to pay, and whichever team chooses to sign Pratt will be getting one of the league’s top tackles.