The Arizona Cardinals are set to sign former Cincinnati Bengals first-round tackle Jonah Williams in a late free-agency move.
Williams came into the league as the No. 11 overall in 2019, and he will now be making $30 million over two years. $19 million of that $30 million deal is guaranteed.
New Arizona Cardinals tackle Jonah Williams was a disappointment for the Cincinnati Bengals
New Arizona Cardinals tackle Jonah Williams played a lot for the Bengals, but he never lived up to what the organization thought he could be. He ended up being moved to right tackle, much to his chagrin.
Williams requested a trade before the 2023 season, but the Bengals never found a suitor. This caused him to play at right tackle for the entirety of the season.
He had a 58.5 overall player grade in 2023 and allowed eight sacks on the year. Many Bengals fans were upset with Williams because he was the one who allowed the quarterback hit that got star quarterback Joe Burrow injured.
This is the play the #Bengals believe Joe Burrow suffered his season-ending injury.pic.twitter.com/hYVAi32QoK https://t.co/s4T8dZn4f5
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 17, 2023
Williams struggled with Clowney for the entire game. He gave up a sack to the veteran pass rusher earlier in the game.
A good example of Ravens’ marriage between coverage and pass rush.
Ravens show 7 at the line, drop 3, rush 4. Joe Burrow has nowhere to throw and Jadeveon Clowney gets the sack. pic.twitter.com/D9nGuehJpF
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) November 20, 2023
Williams has struggled with giving up sacks on the edge for his entire career. With a prized possession like Burrow, the Bengals will need to find an improvement in their replacement for the former first-round pick.
#Chargers Joey Bosa so good at using hand in combination with gaining ground… Subtle swipe on Jonah Williams here
Somehow gets sack stolen from him by Tillery hah pic.twitter.com/i3X8drmiqk
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) September 15, 2020
🚨Week 13 OL Grades🚨
Overall Grades
Best: Alex Cappa – 96.53🔵
Worst: Jonah Williams – 68.75Run Blocking
Best: Alex Cappa – 92.19🔥
Worst: Cordell Volson – 70.31Pass Protection
Best: Alex Cappa – 100.00🔥
Worst: Jonah Williams – 61.251 Pressure, 2 QB Hits, 1 Sack, 9… pic.twitter.com/CwICNEXO9c
— Parker Blake (@ParkerBlake60) December 6, 2023
7th-round pick Isaiah Thomas (58) hitting Bengals LT Jonah Williams with that club/swipe was so clean. Williams was not prepared for it. Completely removes the LT’s outside hand placement. Huge sack that pushed the FG back and led to a miss. #Browns pic.twitter.com/DnGnp2sLVu
— Jake Burns (@jake_burns18) November 1, 2022
New Arizona Cardinals tackle Jonah Williams had promise coming out of college
New Arizona Cardinals tackle Jonah Williams was a highly-touted prospect coming into the NFL. He was a standout tackle for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He was famously touted as the best player on the field by head coach Nick Saban in the Belichick and Saban coaching documentary, as described by Tony Tsoukalas in an article from Alabama Rivals.
One of the most interesting scenes in the documentary took place during Alabama’s pro day in March. Belichick, who wore a crimson Alabama pullover, asked Saban who the Crimson Tide’s best player was outside of defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, who went on to be selected No. 3 overall. Slow to answer, Saban said it was offensive lineman Jonah Williams, who ended up being the next Alabama player taken at No. 11 overall. Belichick then asked Saban if Jonah Williams was exclusively a tackle or if he could play anywhere to which Saban answered, “I think he can play anywhere.”
In a later scene, Saban commended Belichick for always asking him about perspective players, stating the Patriots head coach has never drafted one of his players without asking him about him first.
“There are 30 teams I never hear from, and they pick somebody and I’m saying, ‘How can they pick that guy?’” Saban said. “Or whatever. And then they come back and say, ‘We didn’t know this.’ Well, all you had to do was call. I would’ve told you the good stuff and I would’ve told you any issues.”
Williams ended up coming off the board at the No. 11 spot in an attempt to help the Bengals with an offensive line that struggled immensely. He failed to become what the Bengals hoped, but he is still just 26-years-old and could see a career rejuvenation under new circumstances.
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