Bengals chose not to trade Jonah Williams to an interested AFC club
For about six weeks, the future of Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams was up in the air. Upon requesting a trade back in March, the Bengals did indeed entertain offers to move the former first-round pick. Per Cincinnati.com's Kelsey Conway, the Jacksonville Jaguars had "real interest" in acquiring Williams prior to the 2023 NFL Draft […]
For about six weeks, the future of Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams was up in the air. Upon requesting a trade back in March, the Bengals did indeed entertain offers to move the former first-round pick.
Per Cincinnati.com's Kelsey Conway, the Jacksonville Jaguars had "real interest" in acquiring Williams prior to the 2023 NFL Draft , but the Bengals decided to hold onto him.
Free agency was the catalyst that kicked all of this off. The Jaguars had watched Jawaan Taylor signed a four-year, $80 million deal to join the Kansas City Chiefs, leaving their right tackle spot up for grabs. The Bengals then signed Orlando Brown Jr. from the Chiefs to play left tackle, leaving Williams feeling ousted in the process.
Williams then made his trade request as a reactionary gesture, feeling "blindsided" by the sudden move to sign Brown to a massive contract to essentially replace him.
The Jaguars showing interest despite having signed their left tackle, Cam Robinson, to a three-year extension last year indicates Williams would've been acquired as a right tackle. The move would've also reunited Williams with Robinson, as the two were the bookend tackles for the 2016 Alabama team that lost in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Instead, the Bengals chose to keep Williams, which had an impact on both team's draft plans.
The Jaguars originally had the 24th overall pick in the first round, and after trading back three spots, they selected offensive tackle Anton Harrison. The Bengals were up next on the clock, and Harrison was high on the Bengals' draft board right before the Jaguars picked him.
Harrison became Jacksonville's new right tackle of the future, and Cincinnati went with another player high on its board in defensive end Myles Murphy. The sequence presumably shut down trade talks between the clubs.
The Bengals were also reportedly in contact with the New York Jets about a potential Williams trade, but after watching the Jaguars pick Harrison right before them, there was likely less interest in moving the 25-year old for draft capital. Williams is expected to compete for the starting right tackle job this offseason and should be considered the favorite to win it.
And one simple trade could've changed it all. Williams and Robinson would be teammates again, and Harrison would be the front-runner to become the Bengals' new right tackle.
