2019 NFL Draft: Bengals make a safe pick with Jonah Williams

The Cincinnati Bengals sorely needed help on the offensive line, and played it safe by drafting Alabama tackle Jonah Williams No. 11 overall in the NFL Draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals decided to go the safe route with the high-floor offensive tackle Jonah Williams with the No. 11 pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Williams was one of the most scrutinized prospects in the pre-draft process due to his shorter-than-optimal arms, but he was still the top offensive lineman taken in this class.

Williams was a unanimous All-American as a junior and a three-year starter for Alabama. He’s as technically refined as any offensive lineman to come into the NFL in several years. He’s a true student of the game, spending a lot of time in the film room and the playbook.

The concerns with Williams have stemmed over the potential that he might have to kick inside to guard because of his arm length. Some scouts and prognosticators worried that he could have trouble against the longer, quicker edge rushers at the next level, but plenty of successful NFL tackles have arm lengths similar to Williams.

Regardless of whether Williams kicks inside or stays at tackle, he has All-Pro potential. His versatility is part of his allure as a prospect because he could legitimately play all five positions at the next level. Nick Saban flirted with the idea of moving him to center last season, but Williams rebuffed those notions and stayed at tackle instead.

The Bengals sorely needed help on the offensive line, and Williams could come in and immediately start at right tackle or right guard. He should be an instant upgrade, and should provide a boost for a Cincinnati running game that could be dynamic with Joe Mixon in the backfield.

Many pundits thought that if Dwayne Haskins was available that the Bengals would be tempted to take him as they potentially looked to move on from Andy Dalton in the next couple of years. Instead, for now they reaffirmed their faith in Dalton as the team’s franchise quarterback and bulked up his offensive line to shore up the protection up front.

Williams is as safe as any prospect in this class, and should in the very least become a productive starting lineman in the NFL. His ceiling is that of an All Pro player, and it’s hard not to think the Bengals got this pick correct.

Grade: A