Pro Football Network predicts if Bengals will exercise fifth year option on Jonah Williams

The Cincinnati Bengals have a major decision coming up soon. Cincinnati has to decide by May 2 whether or not they're going to pick up the fifth year option on offensive tackle Jonah Williams. Williams, a former Alabama standout, was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Atlanta, GA native missed […]

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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The Cincinnati Bengals have a major decision coming up soon.

Cincinnati has to decide by May 2 whether or not they're going to pick up the fifth year option on offensive tackle Jonah Williams.

Williams, a former Alabama standout, was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Atlanta, GA native missed his entire rookie season due to a shoulder injury. Williams also missed six games in 2020 (he played in 16 out of 17 games in 2021).

Jan 22, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample (89), guard Hakeem Adeniji (77) and offensive tackle Jonah Williams (73) celebrate kicker Evan McPherson (2) making a game-winning 52-yard field goal in the fourth quarter off the AFC Divisional playoff football game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. The Bengals won the game 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample (89), guard Hakeem Adeniji (77) and offensive tackle Jonah Williams (73) celebrate kicker Evan McPherson (2) making a game-winning 52-yard field goal in the fourth quarter off the AFC Divisional playoff football game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. The Bengals won the game 19-16. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Williams was decent for the Bengals in 2021, grading out as the No. 32 overall offensive tackle (per Pro Football Focus). But "decent" isn't what you expect from a player selected No. 11 overall.

That, along with with his injury history, is why Pro Football Network is predicting that Cincinnati will decline Williams' fifth-year option this spring.

From PFN:

The Bengals are reworking their entire offensive line, but despite some early career adversity, Williams seems to be the lone safeguarded player within the unit.

The former first-round pick has had a bumpy start to his NFL career due to injuries. He missed his entire rookie season with a shoulder injury and only played in 10 games as a sophomore due to a knee issue.

While Williams was able to push himself through all of last season and play well, the Bengals are probably best served waiting out his rookie deal and declining his fifth-year option due to his injury history.

This would probably be the best decision by Cincinnati, thanks to Williams' injury history.

If Williams proves in 2022 to be a reliable offensive tackle that the Bengals need to keep, then Cincinnati can always use the franchise tag on him.

Essentially, committing to a fifth year right now for Williams is too big of a risk. But the franchise tag is there as a safety net in case Williams outperforms expectations this upcoming season.

Featured image via Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

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