Since 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals have largely preferred to rely on short-term deals with veteran right tackles. Riley Reiff and La’el Collins manned the position during their deep 2021-22 postseason runs (though they were on injured reserve during those streaks), with their former first-round pick taking over that side in 2023 with the arrival of Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency.
This past season, it was decorated veteran Trent Williams who was called upon for the starting role. Cincinnati invested a first-round pick in the talented Amarius Mims, but Williams was the seasoned presence the Bengals wanted while their rookie got acclimated to the NFL.