Buffalo, NY – May 6, 2025
The Buffalo Bills pulled off a blockbuster trade, acquiring Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt for a 2026 fourth-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. With Josh Allen’s offense soaring, Brandon Beane aims to fortify a run defense allowing 135.1 yards per game.
Pratt, 29, brings 143 tackles from 2024, two interceptions, and a PFF run-defense grade of 70.1. Paired with Terrel Bernard’s 104 tackles and playmaking (two interceptions, one sack), the duo could transform the Bills’ defense, especially with Matt Milano’s injury history sidelining him for 20 games since 2022.
“Pratt’s a game-changer,” Beane told The Buffalo News’ Ryan O’Halloran. “He and Bernard give Allen a shutdown defense.”
Pratt excels in run defense, with 616 career tackles and 32 tackles for loss, complementing Bernard’s coverage prowess (five interceptions, PFF coverage grade 82.4). Bernard, a 2022 third-rounder, led the Bills with 6.5 sacks and three interceptions in 2023, but his smaller frame (6’1”, 224 lbs) struggles against downhill runs compared to Pratt’s physicality (6’2”, 245 lbs).
The trade, absorbing Pratt’s $5.7 million cap hit, addresses Milano’s fragility. Milano’s elite coverage (PFF 85.2 in 2024) is vital, but his absences demand reliability. Pratt’s durability—15+ games each season since 2019—ensures stability alongside Bernard’s leadership as a 2024 captain.
“They’re a nightmare duo,” said NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks. “Pratt and Bernard could stop Cook’s rivals.”
With James Cook’s 1,086 yards powering the offense, the Bills’ run defense, exposed by Baltimore’s 271 yards in Week 4, gets a boost. Pratt’s tackling machine (never below 76 tackles) and Bernard’s splash plays (three fumble recoveries in 2023) could neutralize threats like Derrick Henry. Beane’s $12.6 million cap supports the move.
Bills Mafia is buzzing, envisioning Pratt and Bernard anchoring a defense to topple Kansas City. With Allen’s MVP-caliber arm, the Bills are all-in for a Super Bowl.
