The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t gotten the kind of production they wanted from Jonah Williams so far but there’s still time for the No. 11 pick to turn things around as he enters year three of his pro career.
Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report said that Williams was the Bengals’ X-factor in 2021 and had this to say:
"The Bengals line was a mess and 2020 No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow was not adequately protected. If that’s going to change in 2021, it’ll fall first and foremost on Williams, who has All-Pro potential and will at least have some more support with steady veteran Riley Reiff and second-round rookie Jackson Carman joining the fray."
Williams went in the top 15 of the 2019 NFL Draft for a reason and it’s because the Bengals believed he’d be their left tackle of the future. Unfortunately, injuries have hampered his production, as he missed his entire rookie season due to an injury to his shoulder and missed six games this past season due to injury as well.
While Williams showed promise in his first official year in the league, he needs to prove he can stay healthy. The Bengals passed on Penei Sewell and that sent a positive message to Williams, so now it’s time for him to live up to the hype.
The Bengals need a breakout season from Jonah Williams.
Williams isn’t the only one on the offensive line who needs to up the ante in 2021. The entire unit struggled last year and as a result, Joe Burrow was injured. Now, all eyes are on the Bengals’ o-line as Burrow enters year two healthy and ready to take the field for the first time after suffering that injury late in the year.
Gagnon mentioned that the Bengals signed Riley Reiff and also drafted Jackson Carman. These two gentlemen will join the o-line and hopefully will be helpful additions in Burrow’s second season at the helm.
Left tackles are one of the most important positions in the league, however, and while Williams hasn’t lived up to the hype so far, he still has time to right the ship. A breakout season from him in 2021 would not only help his stock in the future but would ensure that Cincinnati’s offensive line is far better than it was a season ago.