Duke Tobin doesn’t seem certain he will be able to retain Jonah Williams.
When the 2024 NFL free agency period started, Jonah Williams was seen as a goner ever since Orlando Brown Jr. signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Duke Tobin isn’t really making an effort to refute that idea.
Compared to what he said about fellow upcoming free agent Tee Higgins, Tobin didn’t seem like someone who expected Williams to return for the next season in an interview with Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Jonah, in my opinion, had a strong season, switched positions, and gave us everything. It was striking, Tobin remarked. He has shown his versatility, which will serve him well in the long run. I have no idea what the future will bring. We’ll see.
We shall see if there is a large enough slice of pie for him or if he will be able to find a larger pie elsewhere. Right now, it’s difficult to gauge exactly what other teams will do or how interested they will be in any of our free players. We’re pleased with Jonah’s performance.
Williams, who started all 17 games as the starting right tackle and had a respectable season, is not being waived by the Bengals. Williams and his agent will be searching for left tackle money in free agency because he wants to return to the position; he won’t get it from Cincinnati to stay at right tackle.
There’s always the possibility that he won’t see growth in his market and will have to settle for a lesser contract, which might make the Bengals relevant again. Even if Williams isn’t a particularly good tackle, anyone watching the NFL nowadays can tell how hard it is to find good offensive tackles in the league. Williams, a 26-year-old lineman who is average or above average, will therefore receive a respectable salary someplace.
I wish Williams the best of luck as he pursues his first significant NFL salary after entering the game as an Alabama prospect in the 2019 NFL Draft.
