This 26-Year-Old Offensive Tackle Agrees to Deal with the Cardinals

Although he was drafted in 2019, offensive tackle Jonah Williams has only played the last four seasons. During his rookie season in 2019, Williams tore his labrum; he was placed on the reserves list and did not play at all until the 2020 season. After the Cincinnati Bengals signed Orlando Brown Jr. last offseason, the 26-year-old offensive tackle requested a trade. He eventually chose to stay with the Bengals but switched from left to right tackle. After a severely disappointing 2023 season for Cincinnati, Williams became a free agent. Today, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals for two-year 30 million dollars with 19 million being guaranteed. 

Jonah Williams played three seasons at the University of Alabama. During his freshman season, he was named to the Second-Team All-SEC. Then a year later, he was named to the Third-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC. The 26-year-old offensive tackle also won a College National Championship when he was a part of the 2017 Alabama team that squeaked by the Georgia Bulldogs 26-23. In 2018, he was named for the second time to the First-Team All-SEC, while being honored with the Jacobs Blocking Trophy. During the 2019 NFL Draft, he was selected with the 11th overall pick by the Bengals. 

Williams played in all 17 games for Cincinnati in 2023. The Bengals did not do a good job at protecting Joe Burrow, or his backup Jake Browning. The offensive line for Cincinnati allowed 50 sacks which was tied for 26th in the league. Hopefully, with the Cardinals, Jonah can prove that he and the offensive line can do a much better job protecting their star player.