Linebacker is one of those positions in flux for the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason.
Germaine Pratt is one of the team’s most notable free agents, though whether they get competitive on the open market to keep him is very much in question.
So the Los Angeles Rams and Bobby Wagner parting ways makes things a little more interesting.
That agreement to split just happened after Wagner spent one year with the Rams despite signing a five-year deal worth $50 million. He was dynamite as expected, recording 140 tackles, two interceptions and six sacks, a career-high.
And don’t mistake this for something it’s not — this isn’t an appeal suggesting the Bengals need to go out and get Wagner. He’s elite and that hasn’t changed at the age of 32, but he’ll be out of Cincinnati’s price range.
What it does do, though, is deepen a linebacker market with plenty of interesting names and an impending draft class. It could, in theory, give the Bengals enough time to work something out with Pratt while teams in need look at other guys. Or — like we’ve suggested with Jessie Bates — perhaps this plays a role in Pratt not having as hot of a market as expected, spurring his return.
If the Rams and Wagner parting ways helps the Bengals keep Pratt in some small way, it’s an interesting wrinkle to the offseason. Without some help, the Bengals are probably saying goodbye to Pratt and letting names like Akeem Davis-Gaither attempt to fill the void.
