ESPN says Dallas Cowboys free agent could be a great fit for Cincinnati Bengals
ESPN thinks a Dallas Cowboys player that's set to be a free agent in March could be a great fit this offseason for the Cincinnati Bengals. It's fairly obvious after the Bengals' loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI that protecting quarterback Joe Burrow needs to be a major priority this offseason. […]
ESPN thinks a Dallas Cowboys player that's set to be a free agent in March could be a great fit this offseason for the Cincinnati Bengals.
It's fairly obvious after the Bengals' loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI that protecting quarterback Joe Burrow needs to be a major priority this offseason.
Burrow was sacked 19 times in the playoffs — including 16 times in two games (9 times against the Tennessee Titans and 7 times against the Rams).
In total, Burrow was sacked 70 times this season (including the playoffs). That's the third-highest total in NFL history.
With those stats in mind, it makes sense that ESPN thinks Cowboys offensive lineman Connor Williams would be a good fit for the Bengals this offseason.
With Quinton Spain hitting free agency, the Bengals could pair Williams with center Trey Hopkins and guard Jackson Carman, who should make a Year 2 jump.
While we have some concerns on Williams' overall power and ability to anchor, he upgrades the interior of the Bengals' offensive line. A good fit for Zac Taylor's outside zone run scheme, Williams also has the movement skills to mirror in pass pro.
Williams is a former second-round pick out of Texas who has started 51 out of 57 career games for the Cowboys. He tore his ACL in late 2019, but he returned to play in all 16 games in 2020.
According to Pro Football Focus, Williams played 948 total snaps in 2021 and gave up only one sack.
Run blocking, however, was a little rougher for Williams. He ended the season on a sour note with his 48.9 PFF run blocking grade in the Cowboys' playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Still, the Bengals' offensive line was so bad in 2021 that this would be an upgrade for Cincinnati.
The Bengals need to address their offensive line via both the draft and free agency. Overall talent and depth are an issue. Williams isn't a Pro-Bowl caliber player, but he's better than what Cincinnati is currently working with.
Spotrac's contract projection has Williams getting a four year deal worth $12.3 million a year (which would make Williams one of the top 10 highest paid guards in the NFL). That seems a little a steep. But if the Bengals are serious about protecting Burrow, that might be what they have to spend to upgrade their porous offensive line.
Featured image via Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
