With Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams asking for a trade after reportedly being blindsided by the arrival of Orlando Brown Jr. and the team’s desire to see him play right tackle, he’s rightfully been a big subject of speculation lately.
But there’s a notable wrinkle to consider in the still-developing saga — Williams’ desire to stay at left tackle that has him asking for a trade in the first place and its impact on other teams being interested in adding him.
Outkick’s Armando Salguero recently outlined the impact this has had on possible trade talks:
But a funny thing has happened to Williams en route to being traded: No one has so far been interested in giving up a high draft pick for the 25-year-old player.
“He’s not a big man with long arms and he plays like it,” one NFL general manager told OutKick. “He might not even be a tackle.”
The fifth-year, fully-guaranteed $12.6 million option the Bengals picked up on Williams’ rookie contract was already a hurdle to getting a trade done, never mind giving the team that drafted him back any notable compensation.
Further complicating things for the Bengals is the fact right tackle remains a question mark. Beyond Williams, La’el Collins continues to rehab a season-ending injury from late December and Cody Ford hasn’t proven to be a reliable starter yet.
Teams that need help and might be willing to cough up assets in a trade to take on Williams’ contract might just wait this out to see if they can’t find help at left tackle in the draft.
And for all other teams that need help at other spots, the fact Williams might not even be willing to move for the team that drafted him could block any potential deals.
