Tag: Jonah Williams

Vikings sign former Rams DL Jonah Williams

The Minnesota Vikings signed former Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Jonah Williams to a one year deal

The Minnesota Vikings have made a move to fortify the defensive line on Monday afternoon. The team announced they signed defensive lineman Jonah Williams to a one-year contract.

According to SKOR North’s Darren Wolfson, the deal is for one year and up to $1.5 million. That would prevent the Vikings from losing out on a potential compensatory selection since Williams is a free agent.

Williams is an undrafted free agent from Weber State who played for the Los Angeles Rams the last two seasons and is about to enter his age 29 season. He played in 41 games for the Rams and started 22 of them In those games, Williams had 77 tackles, 45 solo, 4.0 tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks.

He will join a defensive line unit that needs improvement after a disappointing season in 2023.

[lawrence-related id=92167,92165,92161,92158,92144,91826,92139,92140,92133,92131]

Cardinals bringing former Rams DL Jonah Williams for visit

This Jonah Williams played on the Rams defensive line the last three seasons.

The Arizona Cardinals have one Jonah Williams added to the team, having signed the veteran offensive lineman to a two-year deal. They could add a second Jonah Williams.

According to Aaron Wilson, the Cardinals are scheduled to have free agent defensive lineman Jonah Williams, formerly of the Los Angeles Rams, in for a visit on Tuesday.

Williams spent the last four years with the Rams after signing as a rookie free agent out of Weber State. He spent all of 2020 on the practice squad.

In three seasons since then, he appeared in 41 games, starting 22 of them, and collected 77 total tackles, four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits and a tipped pass.

Last season, he was a starter for the Rams, playing in 598 total defensive snaps. Last season alone, he started 16 of 17 games and had 49 tackles and two sacks.

He was non-tendered as a restricted free agent.

He is 28 years old and listed at 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds.

The Cardinals have done a lot on the defensive line this offseason, re-signing L.J. Collier and adding Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols and Khyiris Tonga thus far since the start of free agency.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1363]

Complete contract details, salary cap breakdown for new Cardinals OT Jonah Williams

We look at how Williams’ two-year, $30 million deal is broken down.

The initial report of the contract agreement with Arizona Cardinals tackle Jonah Williams was actually accurate, although key aspects of the deal’s structure were left out.

That’s often the case with initial reports that are incomplete and often misleading because national “insiders” are doing the bidding of agents, who group text them with details they want out and the reporters scurry to get it on Twitter as fast as their fingers can move. They don’t ask questions about the full guarantees or what is necessary for a player to reach incentives in many “up-to” reports where incentives inflate the base value.

It’s a clear quid pro quo and it has now reached the level of naming the agents with their Twitter handle in those tweets.

Back to Williams. It is true that he signed a two-year, $30 million contract with $19 million guaranteed. However, the Cardinals could move on following the 2024 season and save money against the cap in 2025. That would still be a nice payday, but it’s not $30 million.

Here’s how it works.

Jonah Williams contract and salary detauls

The contract actually has $21.5 million of potential guarantees, including a $14 million signing bonus, but $2.5 million of his 2025 salary is guaranteed for injury only at signing and becomes fully guaranteed if he’s on the roster on the fifth day of the 2025 league year.

The base salaries are $2.5 million guaranteed this year and $10.78 million in 2025, of which another $2.5 million is guaranteed at signing. Each year has a possible $510,000 in per-game ($30,000), active-roster bonuses plus $100,000 in offseason workout bonuses.

In 2025, there is also a $1.5 million roster due on the fifth day of the league year.

Salary cap details

The Cardinals structured the contract so the cap charge this year would be only $6.61 million, but it jumps to $16.39 million in 2025. That’s because two void years are included, allowing the $14 million signing bonus to be prorated over four years ($3.5 million per year) instead of two ($7 million per year).

So, if the Cardinals decide to release Williams prior to the fifth day of the 2025 league year, the compensation for that year would go away except for the $2.5 million guaranteed at signing. They would have to accept $13 million of dead money against the cap for the remaining signing bonus proration, but that would still result in saving $3.39 million against the cap.

Surely, the Cardinals hope Williams plays at a high level this season, which could lead to a restructured contract extension. But if he doesn’t, the team is protected.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1363]

Will the Commanders pay more than expected to meet urgent needs?

The Commanders have multiple needs heading into free agency. Will they overspend on any positions?

Pro Football Focus (PFF) Friday suggested the top 10 players they feel will make more than earlier expected in free agency signings.

So, with the Commanders having a substantial need for edge rushers, a center, offensive tackle, left guard, and tight end, would they sign a player for perhaps too much money?

So often, in NFL free agency, the first two days result in players being extremely overpaid. Then, the price tag significantly reduces, and players are signed to contracts that make much more sense according to their actual value.

In their first four seasons in the NFL, Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson was quite durable the first two seasons starting all 16 games. In the last two seasons, he has missed four and five games, respectively. Is this a trend of his durability waning? It may be nothing of the sort. It’s the type of questions that Adam Peters and others must consider and sometimes it is much harder to know which decision to make.

Bengals tackle Jonah Jackson has spent time at both left and right tackle in his first four seasons. According to PFF, in his 2023 season, he earned only a 59.1 grade. So, again, a general manager like Peters must consider what to make of such a low grade this past season. Was it an anomaly? Is it part of a downward trend?

The Jets Bryce Huff is an edge rusher who has been speculated to be coveted by the Commanders. PFF reported that Huff “ranks first among 73 qualifying edge defenders with a pressure rate of 20.9% since 2022, and his 90.4 pass-rushing grade over the span places him sixth at the position.”

Dolphins guard Robert Hunt enjoyed perhaps his finest season in 2023, scoring a 76.4 PFF grade. In his four seasons, Hunt ranks 14th among NFL guards with a 73.2 pass-blocking grade. Hunt did, however, miss seven games during the 2023 season.

Will the Commanders be able to meet a couple of needs during this free agency period next week without overspending?

ESPN analyst tabs versatile offensive lineman as best fit for Patriots

The tackle-needy Patriots could get a boost from this former first-round draft pick

The free agency rumor mill is churning, and the New England Patriots have been described as a best fit for one lineman. ESPN’s Matt Bowen indicated offensive tackle Jonah Willams would be the player he sees as a good fit for New England.

Williams broke into the league with the Cincinnati Bengals as the No. 11 overall pick of the 2019 NFL draft. He was a dependable figure on the offensive line for many seasons, starting in all 64 games he played in Cincinnati and becoming a mainstay on the line.

Williams will hit the market on March 13, if the Bengals decide not to offer him a new deal.

Bowen wrote:

With both starting tackles — Mike Onwenu and Trent Brown — set to hit free agency, the Patriots could shore up the edges of the OL with Williams, a Bengals mainstay this past season. Despite his lack of upper-tier power and length, Williams wins with technique, gaining depth to create blocking angles and pass-set lines. He’d start at the right tackle spot for New England.

Williams could be a priority target, as the tackle depth could take a hit in the off-season. Trent Brown and Mike Onwenu are both going to hit free agency, which could leave holes for New England to fill. Williams would at least be able to provide veteran reinforcements on a line that was inconsistent last season.

The Patriots are likely going to be aggressive in trying to acquire linemen. They are already planning to pursue Dallas Cowboys eight-time Pro Bowl tackle Tyron Smith. Adding Williams to the mix would be another solid option.

Available free agent offensive tackles for Patriots in 2024

There are still solid offensive tackle options for the Patriots on the free agent market in 2024

The New England Patriots are in danger of losing both of their starting offensive tackles from the 2023 season.

Left tackle Trent Brown and right tackle Mike Onwenu are both slated to hit the free agent market, which will put them in the driver’s seat of contract negotiations. Losing Brown would sting, but the Patriots have the cap space and draft capital to overcome that loss in the offseason.

However, things could get tricky if the team fails to re-sign Onwenu, who worked in at both tackle and guard last season. Onwenu is only 26 years old and in position to become one of the rebuilding blocks on the Patriots’ offensive front.

Whether he stays or goes, it’s going to take a herculean effort for the Patriots to get the offensive line back on track. It all starts in free agency by dedicating the necessary resources to young talent that can help the team for years to come.

Here are the available free agent offensive tackles for the Patriots in 2024:

Bengals met with Alabama OL JC Latham at scouting combine

The Bengals met with one of the draft’s biggest names.

The Cincinnati Bengals are looking ahead to the NFL draft with the scouting combine over, but they are starting to get a better idea of who might be someone they could take with their pick at No. 18.

Over the weekend, Alabama right tackle JC Latham said he has met with the Bengals, which would make sense for them in the first round since Jonah Williams is a free agent this offseason and could be looking for a new home so he can go back to the position he moved from on the left side of the line.

“It would be an amazing experience playing with that team,” Latham said at the combine, according to TWSN’s Daniel Alameda. “They’re a Super Bowl-caliber team. They were a play away from winning. It would mean the world if I was drafted by them.”

There are other positions the Bengals need to improve at through the draft as well, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if they make protecting Joe Burrow their biggest priority after missing the playoffs after he missed most of the second half of the season with an injury.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

1 pending free agent the Ravens could target from each AFC team

We’re looking at one pending free agent from each AFC team that the Baltimore Ravens could target

Free agency is about two weeks away, and the Baltimore Ravens have several players set to hit the open market. General manager Eric DeCosta has to make crucial decisions to fill roster holes.

While DeCosta will likely look to the free agent market for answers, several in-house free agents are candidates to sign an extension ahead of free agency.

But there are also many of them, including some of Baltimore’s higher-profile free agents, likely on the way out.

With the NFL combine set to wrap up and the new league year just eight days away, we’re looking at one pending free agent the Ravens could target from each AFC club.

Another prediction favors the Oklahoma Sooners for five-star defender Jonah Williams

The Oklahoma Sooners continue to trend in a favorable direction for five-star safety Jonah Williams after another prediction for OU.

The Oklahoma Sooners pursuit to land another five-star defender for the third recruiting class in a row looks to be on really solid footing.

Oklahoma has been the trending favorite to land five-star safety [autotag]Jonah Williams[/autotag] for some time now, and that doesn’t seem to be slowing down. OU picked up another prediction, this time from Rivals’ Texas Insider Geoff Ketchum.

Ketchum joins a growing number of recruiting analysts to favor the Sooners in Williams’ recruitment. Rivals Aggies Insider Landyn Rosow, 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong and Mike Roach, SoonerScoop’s Josh McCuistion, and On3’s Sam Spiegelman and Justin Wells have all predicted Williams to land with the Sooners.

If Oklahoma were able to earn Williams’ commitment and eventual signature, it would be the second five-star safety added to the roster in three seasons and the fourth five-star defender over the last three seasons.

And for the Sooners to continue to improve their defensive talent, they have to land a player like Williams. His football intelligence, combined with his athleticism and size, make for a recipe for success at the collegiate level and beyond.

Williams makes the game of football look easy, both in coverage and run support. He displays a great understanding of zone spacing and pursuit angles. With his size, he could be a factor at either safety or cheetah for the Sooners in Brent Venables and Zac Alley’s defense.

There’s no telling when Jonah Williams will commit, but all things are pointing to the Sooners at this point in his recruitment.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

PFN predicts Titans sign OT Jonah Williams in free agency

Pro Football Network predicts the Titans sign OT Jonah Williams in free agency.

With the Tennessee Titans in need of offensive line help after a dreadful year for the group in 2023, one player who has been named as a potential fit for the Titans in free agency is Cincinnati Bengals pending free agent and offensive tackle, Jonah Williams.

In an article predicting one free-agent signing for each team, Pro Football Network’s Dallas Robinson links Williams to Tennessee.

This one almost seems too easy. The Titans hired former Bengals OC Brian Callahan as their head coach this offseason and desperately need offensive line reinforcements. Jonah Williams has never been a Pro Bowler, but he’s a former first-round pick who can play a reliable left or right tackle.

Maybe Callahan doesn’t think Tennessee needs to bring in offensive line help because he added his father — Bill Callahan, arguably the NFL’s best OL coach — to the Titans’ staff. If the Callahans believe they can develop front-five talent, Tennesee could use its $65 million in cap space elsewhere.

On the surface, Williams makes sense for the Titans for a few reasons.

For starters, new Titans head coach Brian Callahan is very familiar with the former first-round pick after he served as Cincy’s offensive coordinator for five seasons.

Adding to that, Williams has the ability to play on either side of the line, so he could be a solution at right tackle while also being a fallback bridge option on the left side if the Titans don’t land a Day 1 left tackle in this year’s draft.

The concern is that Williams may not be much better (if at all) than what the Titans already have.

Williams played 1,086 snaps at right tackle for the Bengals last season and gave up eight sacks, 41 pressures and committed five penalties. He posted PFF grades of 57.9 and 54.0 in pass-blocking and run-blocking, respectively.

Tennessee’s 2024 in-house favorite for right tackle, Dillon Radunz, gave up five sacks and 36 pressures and committed 11 penalties while also posting PFF grades of 59.7 in pass protection and 78.7 in run-blocking in 504 total snaps at right tackle.

Bear in mind, Radunz was coming back from a torn ACL and got off to a slow start before finishing strong, with the former second-round pick allowing just one sack and seven pressures over his final five games.

In terms of a left tackle, Williams would be an upgrade over Andre Dillard and Jaelyn Duncan, but so would just about anyone with a pulse.

When he was the Bengals’ left tackle in 2022, Williams surrendered 12 sacks and 43 pressures in 1,101 regular-season snaps. The sacks were tied for the most in the NFL with Titans legend Dennis Daley.

Dillard gave up 12 sacks and 41 pressures in 2023, but also played half the snaps. Duncan allowed nine sacks and 36 pressures in 364 total snaps.

Unless the Titans think they can get more out of Williams with Bill Callahan, he isn’t a big enough upgrade at left tackle to be considered for that role, and I’d argue he’d be comparable, at best, to Radunz at right tackle, so signing him to start at that position wouldn’t make much sense.

Even if the Titans simply wanted to sign him as a swing tackle, I’d rather they spend the money elsewhere and just roll with Nicholas Petit-Frere and Jaelyn Duncan as options for that job.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]