The Bengals will have to add a starting right tackle when Jonah Williams signs elsewhere in free agency.
The team is well aware that their former top pick could become the highest-paid offensive lineman in this free agent cycle. That also means the Bengals will have their fourth starting right tackle in as many seasons.
They’ve had Riley Reiff, La’el Collins and Williams over the past three seasons. Will they add a veteran in free agency or lean on the draft to find their next right tackle?
“Yes, we would like to have somebody man the right tackle spot for a number of years,” Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said. “We’d like it to be a young guy that can come in and do that or a veteran that might have the opportunity to rebuild his career. Something. But yes, we would like that to be manned on multiple fronts.”
The Bengals have the No. 18 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Could a plug-and-play starter be available? There’s a chance. It’s also hard to expect a rookie to have a smooth transition to the NFL and start right away.
“You get a guy somewhere in the top 10, you are hoping it’s going to be a lot smoother transition,” offensive line coach Frank Pollack said. “I’ve heard debates say after the 12th pick in the draft, what’s the difference between 13 and 32? It’s kind of that demarcation line of guys who have a smoother transition, regardless of position. It’s not a walk in the park for sure.”
In a perfect world, the Bengals would sign a veteran and be able to double down early in the draft.
“If you sign an older guy [in free agency], you are hoping to find a young guy to step up and develop as well,” Pollack said. “We are looking at all those options. We’ll see where this offseason takes us.”
Pollack has already ranked the Bengals’ free agent options. The front office will have their rankings as well. It would be surprising if they didn’t add to their offensive line room in free agency, even if it’s considered a deep tackle class in the draft.
