ESPN thinks Bengals should trade Jonah Williams to AFC team for a former first-round pick
Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams recently requested a trade. Williams made the request after the Bengals signed Orlando Brown Jr to play left tackle. The addition of Brown means that Williams would need to move to right tackle in Cincinnati. Williams, however, will be a free agent after the 2023 season and he likely […]
Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams recently requested a trade.
Williams made the request after the Bengals signed Orlando Brown Jr to play left tackle.
The addition of Brown means that Williams would need to move to right tackle in Cincinnati. Williams, however, will be a free agent after the 2023 season and he likely doesn't want to go into free agency after playing right tackle for a season.
It's unclear what the Bengals could get for Williams (NBC Sports' Peter King recently suggested that Cincy should take a third-round pick for him) or if they'll actually trade him.
If the Bengals do end up trading Williams, ESPN thinks they should send him to the New York Jets for offensive tackle Mekhi Becton, the No. 11 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.
From ESPN: The Jets would send Mekhi Becton to the Bengals for Williams. Becton has played just one game over the past two seasons because of injuries and would require a lengthy physical, but he looked like a franchise left tackle in 2020. He would get a shot on the right side for Cincinnati, which is trying to get more physical up front. Williams has the more significant résumé as a pro, but Becton's 2020 season was better than Williams has looked at this level. Becton also has a fifth-year option available, although I would expect the Bengals to decline it because of his injury history. Williams is more expensive, and Cincinnati could use the $9 million or so it would save with this swap to work on rebuilding its secondary.
The Bengals should definitely pass on this proposal. Becton is a talented player, but he simply can't be counted on to play a full season (or even half a season). Cincinnati shouldn't just give Williams away and that's possibly what they'd be doing with this deal. Getting a draft pick for Williams — even if it's a third-round pick — would be better than trading for an often-injured offensive tackle.
This trade wouldn't make Williams happy, either. And the Jets likely know that. Williams would have to play right tackle in New York with Duane Brown slotted in at left tackle. It's very unlikely that either the Jets or the Bengals would actually pursue this deal.
