No. 1 is a positive term not often associated with the Arizona Cardinals. The NFL team has posted two consecutive four-victory seasons and has had one winning record in the past eight years.
But for former Alabama All-American Jonah Williams, Arizona was his preferred landing spot in NFL free agency this week.
More stories on the NFL
“There were some other teams,” Williams said about suitors for his services. “The free-agency process is so crazy because it’s a lot of questions, all this stuff, and then everything happens quick, so when my agent let me know that the Cardinals were interested, I was like, ‘They’re my No. 1. Let’s get this done.’”
Williams signed a contract on Thursday reported as a two-year, $30 million deal. The offensive tackle had spent the previous five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, who chose him from Alabama with the 11th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
“It’s an exciting place as an organization,” Williams said of Arizona. “I’ve had a chance to meet Mr. (Michael) Bidwell, the owner; (general manager) Monti (Ossenfort) and coach (Jonathan) Gannon today, and just the positive energy, the positive sort of atmosphere here, and I feel it’s a team on an upward trajectory. I was fortunate enough to be a part of something like that in Cincinnati, and it’s just a lot of fun. Not to mention the city and all the amenities like that. We live in San Diego in the offseason, so quick flight, and I’ve really, really enjoyed my brief time here so far.”
Williams missed his rookie season with the Bengals because of a shoulder injury, and Cincinnati won two games. In his second season, the Bengals won four games. But in his third season, Cincinnati won the AFC championship before falling to the Los Angeles Rams 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13, 2022.
Williams said the Cardinals’ change of direction could be felt in the NFL in Arizona’s first season under Gannon.
“That sort of reverberates throughout the league, that sort of exciting new culture,” Williams said. “I had the opportunity to play out here last year when I was still with the Bengals. The stadium’s great, the fans were loud and I kind of took some notes in my head, and I was like, ‘If the opportunity ever arises, I’d love to be out here.’ And I was very fortunate the opportunity did arise. I’m really excited to be here.”
One reason for Williams’ excitement is Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. A Pro Bowl selection in 2020 and 2021, Murray missed 15 games over the previous two seasons, and the Cardinals won only two of those contests.
“I think it’s going to be exciting,” Williams said. “He’s an electric playmaker. There’s only so many guys like that in the NFL, and so it’s exciting to be at a team that has one.”
Before signing Williams, the Cardinals released D.J. Humphries, a 2021 Pro Bowler with eight seasons in Arizona. That opened a spot at left tackle on the offensive line.
Williams said he didn’t know if he’d be filling that vacancy or staying at right tackle, where he played in 2023 for the Bengals. First-round rookie Paris Johnson played right tackle for the Cardinals in 2023, but he was a left tackle at Ohio State.
“I know what I’m bringing to this team, and it’s great tackle play, and that’s what I want to do,” Williams said. “Wherever the coaches want to put me, wherever they decide to put me, that’s what I’m going to do. I’ve played significant snaps at both positions, and I think I can positively contribute to the team either way.”
Williams handled right tackle at Alabama as a freshman, then switched to left tackle for his remaining two seasons with the Crimson Tide. He had played left tackle for Cincinnati until the Bengals signed four-time Pro Bowler Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency last offseason, put him at left tackle and moved Williams to right tackle.
“I wanted to approach that situation positively,” Williams said. “And that’s what I did was: Let’s do the best I can wherever I am. That was at right tackle last year. I think it worked out well for me. I enjoyed playing right tackle, and I think I had a good year. And I think that versatility is nothing but positive for me in my career and what I can bring to the team. …
“At the end of the day, it’s just football. It’s just O-line. It’s all the same stuff. It just feels a little bit different to do it. Honestly, by the second week of training camp, it felt as good as left tackle ever did.”
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.