Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams was named one of the top 50 prospects during the Pro Football Focus era. The ranking of college players and NFL Draft prospects by PFF who is based locally in Cincinnati began in 2015. Williams was the 11th pick overall in the first round out of Alabama in 2019.
Williams missed his rookie year in 2019 with a torn labrum. After starting all 10 games he played in during the 2020 season, Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury. Williams started all 44 games he played in during his Alabama career. As a freshman in 2016, Williams started all 15 games at right tackle.
Williams moved to left tackle as a sophomore and started the final 29 games of his Alabama career there. ESPN named Williams a true freshman All-American in 2016. Williams also earned second-team All-ACC his first collegiate season. Williams earned first-team All-SEC at LT in 2017 and 2018.
As a sophomore in 2017, Williams was a third-team All-American. Williams was a unanimous All-American as a junior during his final season with the Crimson Tide in 2018. Williams earned the Jacobs Award as the best blocker in the SEC in 2018. At Alabama, Williams became an elite pass blocker according to PFF.
Alabama OT Jonah Williams tied for second in the draft class in run-blocking grade. pic.twitter.com/2LgVdrn3Yu
— PFF (@PFF) April 6, 2019
"45. T JONAH WILLIAMS, ALABAMAWe loved the fact that Williams was a plus pass-protector from the rip at Alabama. He allowed only 15 pressures and earned a 78.9 pass-blocking grade as a true freshman. That pass-blocking grade jumped to 88.6 in his final year.His rookie year ended before it began because of a shoulder injury, but he earned a 75.8 pass-blocking grade this past season for the Bengals."
Williams’ future with the Bengals will depend on who they acquire on the offensive line in free agency and the NFL Draft. Williams has played LT with Cincinnati. The speculation is that Williams could move to RT or head inside to play guard. Williams and center Trey Hopkins are the only secure starters on the Bengals 2021 OL.
Williams is one of the cornerstones of the Bengals’ OL in the future. Upgrading the Cincinnati OL is the biggest priority during the 2021 offseason. The likelihood is that Hopkins and Williams will be starting next to at least two new starters in 2021. Protecting Joe Burrow is critical for the Bengals future.