Tag: Jonah Williams

Bengals’ Jonah Williams has interesting proposed landing spot in free agency

Could Jonah Williams land with this team in free agency?

Much of the attention around the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of free agency has focused on star wideout Tee Higgins.

But there’s also the matter of right tackle Jonah Williams, whose potential departure could leave the line in front of Joe Burrow with serious questions yet again.

In an interesting twist, ESPN’s Matt Bowen suggests that Williams could be an ideal signing for the New England Patriots:

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.

That registers as interesting because — as we’ve already noted — Trent Brown might be a solid target for the Bengals on the open market, too. Mike Onwenu would be another Williams replacement they might consider.

And this might be the type of sacrifice the Bengals make in the name of building around big contracts for skill positions like Higgins. Spending less at right tackle for a minor downgrade to keep the money flowing elsewhere might just be what ends up happening.

If this is the scenario that starts to play out, it would also keep the idea of a first-round offensive lineman on the table, too.

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What it would cost for Bengals to use franchise tag

How much will a franchise tag cost the Bengals?

The NFL’s window for teams to use their franchise tag is now officially open, and the Cincinnati Bengals are one of the teams that seem likely to use theirs.

They have until March 5 to apply a tag, which would extend the timeframe in which they could negotiate an extension with that player if that’s the route the Bengals wanted to take.

It has been reported that the Bengals are likely to use their franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins, which Bleacher Report estimates would take around $21.7 million to secure Higgins for another year.

That would likely be around what Higgins would be worth in free agency for one year, but if the Bengals were able to work out an extension with him in that timeframe the contract could also be structured in a way that would still give them more cap space next year.

Jonah Williams is another big free agent leaving the Bengals, and they do have the option of tagging him, but as a right tackle, the $21.7 million it would cost to do so would be over the market value for someone on the outside of the right side of the line. Williams could be looking to test free agency as a left tackle since they normally earn more, and he has played there most of his career.

Here’s what Tyler Conway of Bleacher Report estimates what a franchise tag at each position would cost:

QB: $36 million

RB: $12.4 million

WR: $21.7 million

TE: $12.4 million

OL: $21.7 million

DE: $23.3 million

DT: $19.8 million

LB: $21.9 million

CB: $18.4 million

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Oklahoma Sooners earn another crystal ball for highly sought 2025 safety

The Oklahoma Sooners continue to rack in predictions for one of the most sought-after 2025 products.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a chance to put together a special recruiting class in 2025. The Sooners currently sit with 10 commitments and rank No. 6 in the country.

Since their junior day in January, they’ve been getting numerous predictions in their favor for one of the most sought high school players, five-star safety [autotag]Jonah Williams[/autotag] from Galveston, Texas.

That continued on Monday as the Sooners gained one from 247Sports’ national recruiting analyst Mike Roach. Roach put in his prediction with a confidence level of six. Roach joins 247Sports director of football recruiting Steve Wiltfong, who issued a crystal ball prediction on Feb. 6.

Williams is a linebacker/safety hybrid, with the Sooners recruiting him more as a safety, but I could see him ultimately growing into the cheetah role for Oklahoma. He finished with 54 tackles, eight pass breakups, four interceptions, three interceptions returned for touchdowns and four punt and kick return touchdowns last season.

The No. 14 overall player in the country would be a major get for anyone in the country, but especially at Oklahoma, which is set to lose [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] after this year. One thing we’ve seen, though, since this regime took over in 2022 is safeties coach [autotag]Brandon Hall[/autotag] can recruit and has done a good job at developing as well.

So, the Sooners have the right guy in charge of leading his recruitment it’s now just about closing the deal.

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

Ranking 2024’s top 12 free-agent offensive tackles

Are there any hog mollies worth keeping an eye on in free agency?

Will the Carolina Panthers be able to find the fabled offensive line depth this offseason?

Here are the top 12 free-agent offensive tackles of 2024:

Sooners earn crystal ball from 247Sports director of football recruiting

247

The Oklahoma Sooners look like they’re in the driver’s seat for a five-star defender in the [autotag]2025 recruiting cycle[/autotag].

Over the weekend, predictions rained down from On3, favoring the Sooners to land five-star defender [autotag]Jonah Williams[/autotag]. Williams, out of Galveston, Texas, is a two-sport athlete and one of the best defenders in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

On Tuesday, 247Sports national recruiting director Steve Wiltfong issued a crystal ball prediction supporting the Sooners’ standing with Williams.

Williams is an incredible talent who has a knack for making plays in deep safety roles as well as in run support. His ability, combined with his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame, makes him an intriguing option for the cheetah role in [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] and [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ defense.

He’s the No. 14 player in the 247Sports composite. Listed as a linebacker with 247Sports, he’s the No. 2 linebacker in the 2025 recruiting class.

Whether he plays linebacker, safety or cheetah at the next level, just get him on the football field. He’s the kind of player that can help take your defense to the next level with his playmaking ability.

Oklahoma put itself in a comfortable position in Williams’ recruitment, but it can’t get too comfortable. Williams has offers from the who’s who of college football and every one of those programs would love to turn the momentum in their favor.

If the Sooners eventually sign Williams, he would be their fourth five-star prospect in the last three recruiting classes, joining [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag], [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag] and [autotag]David Stone[/autotag].

That’s how you build a defense.

More: 5-Star prospect Jonah Williams recruiting profile

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

Three more predictions favor the Sooners for 2025 5-Star safety

Oklahoma has put themselves in prime position for elite 2025 defensive back.

The Oklahoma Sooners are building something special in their [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] so far. There is still a long way to go before Early Signing Day but if the Sooners can continue this momentum, they could have a special class on their hands.

Saturday, the Sooners received a prediction from On3’s Texas insider Justin Wells for five-star safety [autotag]Jonah Williams[/autotag], but since then, three more predictions have come in in favor of the Sooners. One of which is from Texas A&M Insider Landyn Rosow. SoonerScoop’s Josh McCuistion and On3’s Sam Spiegelman also issued predictions in the Sooners’ favor.

The prediction from the Aggies recruiting insider is a big one. Texas A&M has been a thorn in Oklahoma’s side on the recruiting trail in recent years. Williams also reportedly canceled his visit to A&M that was scheduled for this weekend sighting a prior commitment.

But this is the big one for Oklahoma, especially on the defensive side of the ball. This class has a lot of potential to be a special offensive line class, but there aren’t a ton of highly-touted defensive players Oklahoma is in the running for. So Williams could be the face of the class on the defensive side of the ball.

Now, it’s up to [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], [autotag]Brandon Hall[/autotag], and the rest of the Sooners staff to bring it home and get pen to paper on signing day.

More: 2025 5-Star Safety Jonah Williams predicted to land with the Sooners.

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 Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Sooners receive prediction for 2025 5-star defender Jonah Williams

Oklahoma Sooners received a prediction to land 2025 five-star defender Jonah Williams.

In each of the last two recruiting cycles, the Oklahoma Sooners have found a way to land a trio of five-star defenders in [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag], [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag], and [autotag]David Stone[/autotag]. They might be heading to another recruiting cycle with a five-star defender in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

[autotag]Jonah Williams[/autotag], out of Galveston, Texas, was predicted to land with the Oklahoma Sooners by Texas recruiting insider for On3, Justin Wells.

Williams looks like a player who could play multiple positions with the Oklahoma Sooners. He’s got the athleticism and size to play either safety or cheetah for the Sooners. But if Brent Venables and his staff wanted to bulk him up, he could also be a factor at linebacker.

Regardless of where he ends up on the field, Williams will make an impact. Simply put, he’s a really good football player. He could probably start at wide receiver, running, back, cornerback, or safety for a large number of Power Four programs.

Williams holds offers from 27 programs across the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12, including notable programs like Alabama, Texas, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Oregon, LSU, and Ohio State.

As a safety, Williams shows fantastic awareness in zone coverage and a natural ability to attack the ball in the air. He’s a wrap-up tackler, displaying good form when attacking ball carriers and wide receivers. And he attacks the line of scrimmage with aggressiveness and speed.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a long way to go in this recruitment, but this is a strong indication that Oklahoma is in a strong position to add one of the most talented defenders in the nation to their 2025 recruiting class.

Jonah Williams Recruiting Profile

Projections

  • (Rivals Futurecast
  • On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine favors the Oklahoma Sooners with a 91.8% chance to land Williams
  • (Crystal Ball)

Film

via HUDL

Michigan football offers 2025 five-star linebacker from Texas

Coach Moore is swinging for the fences already! #GoBlue

It’s not like Michigan football didn’t offer five-stars in Jim Harbaugh’s tenure as the head coach, but after Harbaugh’s first few years with the program, it started seeming more and more unlikely that the Wolverines would land them, barring some kind of program or personal connection.

Enter Sherrone Moore, who is responsible for personally recruiting two of Michigan’s five-stars since he arrived. Moore was the primary recruiter for former safety Dax Hill and quarterback J.J. McCarthy and was secondary on running back Donovan Edwards. Now that he’s been the head coach for a few days, Moore is swinging for the fences with immediacy.

On Monday, Michigan football offered Galveston (Tx.) Ball five-star linebacker Jonah Williams — a player who already has a slew of high-end offers from the top programs across the country.

Though schools like Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, LSU, and others already have offers in, Michigan can pitch a new era under Moore, building on a new vision in the aftermath of winning a national championship. The staff is still being built, but Moore can certainly argue that his future team will revolve around top talent, taking the Wolverines to another level from that perspective.

Will it resonate with a player like Williams? That remains to be seen, but recruiting should certainly be more aggressive in the Moore regime compared to that of his predecessor.

Williams is ranked the No. 14 player in the country according to the 247Sports Composite, the second-best linebacker, and the No. 3 player in the state of Texas. He’s listed at 6-foot-3, 203 pounds.

Oklahoma to host talented 2025 prospects for first Junior Day of new recruiting cycle

Oklahoma is hosting their first Junior Day for the Class of 2025. We’ve compiled a list of the expected or confirmed attendees.

Oklahoma’s recruiting has been borderline elite since Brent Venables took over as Norman’s head man. The three recruiting classes have been well-balanced from top to bottom. As the 2024 class begins to acclimate themselves as student-athletes on campus this month, the staff has pressed on and is looking ahead to the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

The 2025 class is a switch-up from the previous classes. If nothing else because the Sooners have a slew of commits already in the boat for 2025. In the last few years, Oklahoma has exploded onto the scene in the summer. Some early lifting and the byproduct of terrific relationships built over the last few years have already paid dividends for this staff. The Sooners already have nine commits for 2025.

Oklahoma will host its first Junior Day of the year Saturday in Norman, and we’ve done our best to compile a list of the names confirmed or expected to be in the building.

[autotag]Elijah Thomas[/autotag] – four-star WR – OU Commit

[autotag]Owen Hollenbeck[/autotag] – four-star IOL  – OU Commit

[autotag]Kevin Sperry[/autotag] – four-star QB – OU Commit

[autotag]Ka’Mori Moore[/autotag] –three-star DT  – OU Commit

[autotag]Caleb Cunningham[/autotag] – five-star WR

Emmanuel Choice – three-star WR

Kole Briehler – three-star DL

Demarius Robinson – RB

Max Granville – four-star EDGE

[autotag]Cobey Sellers[/autotag] – four-star CB

Deyjhon Pettaway – four-star CB

[autotag]Trystan Haynes[/autotag] – four-star CB

Omarion Robinson – four-star S

[autotag]Landon Rink[/autotag] – four-star DL

[autotag]Jonah Williams[/autotag] – five-star LB/S

Tory Blaylock – four-star RB

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4 Bengals free agents who could follow Brian Callahan if he leaves Cincinnati

Could Bengals free agents join Brian Callahan on another team?

This feels like the year the Cincinnati Bengals could actually lose offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to a head coaching gig with another team.

As of this writing, Callahan had contact with four different teams about head coaching vacancies just after becoming the NFL’s longest-tenured offensive coordinator.

Interestingly, this possible Callahan departure (and likely Dan Pitcher promotion) comes at a time when the Bengals also have some key offensive players heading to free agency.

That could lead to a situation where one of the following names actually joins Callahan on one of the interested teams (Chargers, Titans, Panthers and Falcons), too.