Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Willaims has requested a trade after the team signed Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency.
The request was first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Cincinnati signed Brown to a megadeal on the first day of free agency and will play him at left tackle. The working theory was the Bengals would move Williams to right tackle, where La’el Collins currently rehabs from injury and is a cut candidate.
Williams, the No. 11 overall pick in 2019, has one year left on his rookie contract and has been against moving out of left tackle in the past.
Cincinnati doesn’t have to honor the trade request, but Williams could have a very active market. He is heading into his age-26 season and is due $12.6 million on his fifth-year option. Starting left tackles don’t normally become available, and Williams and his agent undoubtedly want to avoid the change to right tackle in a contract year given how much smaller deals are for linemen on that side.
Potentially anticipating this, the Bengals signed Cody Ford after agreeing to give him a shot at right tackle.
In the wake of the Orlando Brown signing, #Bengals OT Jonah Williams has requested a trade through his agent Ryan Tollner, sources say. Just 25 years old with 47 career starts at LT protecting Joe Burrow, Williams becomes the top tackle available if Cincy is willing to move on. pic.twitter.com/miTcjVjCtG
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2023
