Jonah Williams - On Notice

[George Cantstandya]

(04-25-2022, 07:49 PM)ezekiel23 Wrote: Williams is a solid LT,I’ll give you that.I guess solid means about average.I would definitely make it  a prove it year.Left Tackles don’t come cheap.But,who knows,a lot can happen in the next year.For all we know Smith might have a break out year.

Well the thing is and something I was mistaken about is that the Bengals only have until May 2nd to agree to his 5th year option.  So it is kind of tricky to say make it a prove it year.   If they don't commit to the 5th year option then he is a free agent next year.  If he plays good or great that leaves the Bengals with options to either franchise tag him and paying him a guaranteed salary based on the average of the top 5 salaries at his position (which would be very expensive, the tag value for O-line was $16.6 million this year and will most likely be more next year) or trying to work out a longer term deal.  See the recent issues with Jesse Bates and the tag for how that can be complicated.  

But given last season he was fairly solid and I expect barring injury he will continue to improve it makes sense to me to pick up the 5th year option instead of saying to him this is a "prove it year."  I think given the struggles the Bengals have had finding even an average LT over the years he is worth that 5th year option locked in at 12.6 million.