Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bengals OT clears the air regarding trade request, eyes position switch

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 6/13/23

When the Cincinnati Bengals signed prized free agent Orlando Brown Jr. to play left tackle in 2023, the move didn’t sit right with their incumbent left tackle Jonah Williams.

The 25-year-old Alabama alum was so upset with the Bengals front office that he asked to be traded. Now that he’s had time to cool down, Williams has withdrawn his request, stating he’s more than happy to switch from left to right tackle to accommodate Brown Jr.

"Watching the Chiefs, he's a great player,” Williams told the team’s official website. “I'm happy to have him. No hard feelings or anything like that. I'm looking forward to getting to know him better."

Jonah Williams clears the air in a very respectful, honest way.

Wasn’t happy that the front office didn’t have a convo with him about moving his position before he saw the news - and still hasn’t - but it was never personal and plans to be the best RT he can be pic.twitter.com/Tup8FyOqSY
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) June 13, 2023

All 3,066 offensive snaps of Williams three-year NFL career have come at left tackle — a position he’s started for 42 games, including the last two seasons when he was Cincy’s full-time starter.

Despite his experience, Williams has struggled to adequately protect franchise quarterback Joe Burrow. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound lineman has surrendered 23 combined sacks over the last two seasons, allowing 45 or more pressures and 26 or more hurries each year, per Pro Football Focus.

But with Brown Jr., a four-time Pro Bowler, locking down Burrow’s blind side, Williams is expected to see less of opposing team’s top pass-rushers when he slides over to the right side — a position he played a little bit in college.

"(The biggest adjustment) is re-learning everything for the other side of your body,” Williams said. “Opposite stance. Post leg is your kick leg and vice versa and all that. It's nothing that reps and practice won't get me used to. … The last time I played right tackle was freshman year in college. There's a lot of technique to kind of unlearn and switch to the other side. It's my job. I love it. I've got a great coach, great teammates, and I'm grinding my a-s off. I'm going to crush it."

More must-reads: