If the Cincinnati Bengals lose linebacker Germaine Pratt to free agency, the team could ask others on the roster to step up in the vacancy instead of adding a high-profile replacement.
But for NFL Films’ Greg Cosell, letting the likes of Akeem Davis-Gaither get a chance to step up could backfire.
“The way they play defense, they need a linebacker opposite (Logan) Wilson,” Cosell said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “Even though he plays in certain packages, I don’t think (Akeem) Davis-Gaither can fill that role. He’s more of an athletic, lighter, almost hybrid safety type. They’d have to find a guy to replace Pratt.”
Coaches at the scouting combine have raved about Davis-Gaither, but it’s a fair concern to have after he’s spent most of his career as expected so far — as a subpackage specialist.
There’s a debate worth having, though, on whether an outside free agent or even a rookie would be able to come in and fill that vacancy better than ADG anyway given the veteran’s experience in Lou Anarumo’s system.
There’s also the matter of Pratt. He’s said he wants to be back, though he continues to make his desires to play more third downs known. It could come down to what the market prices him at, though fans handwaving his loss would be underselling his dramatic improvement over the years.
While the spotlight shines on bigger things, this is one of those debates the Bengals will need to settle internally over the next few weeks and months and indeed, there doesn’t appear to be an easy answer.
