It’s often more interesting to learn about the trades that almost happened rather than the ones that did. That appears to be the case between two AFC teams, as the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars nearly swung a blockbuster trade ahead of last month’s 2023 NFL Draft.
Per Kelsey Conway, the Jaguars were interested in trading for Jonah Williams.
The latest on #Bengals Jonah Williams:
Jags had real interest in making a trade for Jonah. Cincy & JAX had talks prior to the draft, per a source. Bengals opted not to move him.
Jonah is expected to participate in the mandatory activities & play this season in Cincy at RT
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) May 15, 2023
The Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman requested a trade after the team opted to make a move for Orlando Brown, Jr., who will be Joe Burrow’s left tackle moving forward.
Williams was unhappy with the switch to right tackle or the move in free agency that unseated him from the left side. The Jaguars explored moving after Cam Robinson was suspended for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. According to Conway, it sounds like Jacksonville gave serious consideration before using its first-round pick on former Oklahoma Sooners offensive tackle Anton Harrison, who will likely fill in for Robinson on that left side.
The Bengals opted not to trade Williams to the Jaguars. And while he has not been present for the team’s offseason workouts, Conway, who covers the Bengals for Cincinnati.com (The Enquirer), is reporting that Williams is expected to partake in the team’s mandatory offseason activities and will play this season in Cincinnati at right tackle.
NFL fans — mainly Jaguars and Bengals fans — reacted to the news on social media:
Proposed trade package not good enough to move him, eh?
He's on the final year of his contract and a pro, so he should be ready… and the Bengals need that depth.
Right call https://t.co/ZZH3f7AYOS
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) May 16, 2023
The trade that never was. https://t.co/zuiUKMphqv
— Black&Teal (@BLACKandTEAL) May 15, 2023
Duke must have wanted a premium for that to not pan out. https://t.co/pwxvW9BCsr
— Drew Garrison (@DrewGarrison) May 15, 2023
would've had jonah be the right tackle to cam robinson's left tackle again just like the 2016 bama team. https://t.co/a1yG79o5ao
— John Sheeran (@John__Sheeran) May 15, 2023
This is the right decision. They're spending too much money on the tackle position this year between Brown, Williams, and Collins. But it's only a one year problem and it's good to have options. https://t.co/KVfQwLtKGp
— Cole Craycraft (@ColeCraycraft) May 15, 2023
Wonder if this got broached again during the draft with Jacksonville picking Anton Harrison right before the Bengals picked in the first round
Probably not given what we've heard about the draft room as they decided on the pick https://t.co/GBwXoRbqev
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) May 15, 2023
Interesting. Would have made sense for Jags considering potential Robinson fallout. https://t.co/3sntL2kWh3
— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) May 15, 2023
I guess the Bengals wanted way more than the Jags were willing to give up https://t.co/SHDzzsAgSl
— Der German Tiger🐅🇩🇪 (@DerGermanTiger) May 15, 2023