Free agency will likely have an impact on the Bengals' linebacker room.
Germaine Pratt, set to hit free agency this offseason, may have likely played his last game in a Bengals uniform. With the Joe Burrow extension era in effect, the Bengals may opt to let him walk with fellow linebacker Logan Wilson entering a contract year next season.
Reserve linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither seems like the likely candidate to fill Pratt's shoes if he's not back in Cincinnati in 2023. The third-year linebacker only played about 22% of total defensive snaps but made most of them count, including his interception in the wild card game against Baltimore.
However, Clay Johnston and Joe Bachie, two backups who mainly played on special teams, are also free agents and aren't surefire locks. Even if the Bengals decide to bring them back, they may have to use some draft capital to fill part of the void that would be left by Pratt.
Draft capital may be critical especially if Wilson doesn't land an extension before this season or isn't resigned before the 2024 season. Markus Bailey, another special teams linebacker who's been used in multiple subpackages, might be the one to fill Davis-Gaither's shoes if Davis-Gaither starts.
The Strictly Stripes podcast crew looks at how much of a drop-off there could be in a world where Pratt doesn't return in 2023. Aside from the current reserves on the Bengals' roster, they look at any possible names the Bengals should consider in free agency or in this April's NFL Draft.
This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Andrew Gillis and Michael Niziolek.
Music: Starfields by Hallman
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