Williams demands trade after Brown unseats him

Bengals offensive lineman Jonah Williams has requested a trade through his agent Ryan Tollner, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The request comes after Cincinnati agreed to sign Chiefs starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to a fouryear, $64 million deal with the intent of starting him at the position.

Brown was the top free agent available at tackle.

Cincinnati picked up the fifth-year option on Williams’ rookie contract last year and he will make $12.6 million this season.

The Bengals drafted the Alabama alum with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He has been the team’s full-time starter at left tackle (42 career starts in the regular season) since taking over at the position at the start of the 2020 season.

He gave up a team-high 12 sacks last season and 43 quarterback pressures.

Offensive coordinator Brian Callahan told reporters Williams might be skeptical of switching positions when he was asked about the possibility of moving him over to the right side during the NFL Scouting Combine.

“It’d be tough,” Callahan said. “He’s spent his whole career, really, especially as a pro, as a left tackle. Moving him would probably be pretty difficult.

“It’s probably not something that he would be necessarily excited about, either.”

Williams last played right tackle during his freshman year at Alabama, and while reports say a trade could happen soon, offensive line coach Frank Pollack said he reached out to Williams on Friday and doesn’t think he’ll have any trouble moving to the right side if he were to stay in Cincinnati.

Bengals sign former Rams safety Nick Scott to three-year deal

The Bengals have agreed to terms with former Rams safety Nick Scott, per a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal will be for three years, and is worth $12 million. Scott confirmed the news on his Twitter account shortly after the report, tweeting, “WHO DEY!”

The 2019 seventh-round draft pick played his last four seasons for the Rams, and finished 2022 (his first as a starter) with 86 tackles and two interceptions. Known for his run defense, he should fill the role vacated by Vonn Bell, who signed with the Panthers.

The Bengals have 2022 first-round draft pick Dax Hill penciled in as one starting safety.