Bengals OT Jonah Williams has requested a trade from the Bengals. This move comes shortly after the Bengals signed Orlando Brown to a big contract.
Williams was drafted 11th overall by the Bengals in 2019. After missing his entire rookie year due to injury, he went on to be the team’s unquestioned starter from 2020-2022.
A big reason why Orlando Brown chose to come to Cincinnati was for the opportunity to play LT. The Bengals initial plan was to move Williams over to the right side.
The thing is, the NFL generally values the LT position a lot more than RT. There is a lot more money at LT. Given that Williams is entering a contract year, it is not surprising to see him frustrated.
A trade request does not guarantee that one will happen. And the Bengals are especially known for being stingy when it comes to trades. That said, if a 2nd round pick is offered their way, the Bengals should scoop it up. It is a strong OT class in this year’s draft, and you would likely be able to find a replacement, while also saving roughly $12M against the cap. Even a 3rd round pick should be considered, if that is what the best offer is.
Ultimately though, as this process is in its early stages, it would not be a surprise to see Williams again suiting up for the Bengals this year. In fact, it may still be the most likely outcome.
