Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams has requested a trade after the team reportedly signed free agent tackle Orlando Brown Jr.,NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports.
Williams was the Bengals’ first round pick in the 2019 draft, and he is set to enter the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. After missing his rookie season with a torn ACL, he has been a stalwart on the offensive line, starting at left tackle and playing in over 95% of the team’s snaps in each of the last two seasons, missing just one game in that span.
By signing Brown to a four-year deal, Cincinnati now has three starting-caliber tackles in Brown, Williams and La’el Collins. Williams, however, is the only one of those three players who is not under contract beyond the 2023 season.
The Bengals will have several players due for new contracts besides Williams after the season, including Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. With this trade request, Williams becomes one of the better offensive lineman available this offseason.
