Why the Cincinnati Bengals Brought Back Trayveon Williams: Grading the Move, and What’s Next?

CINCINNATI – Shortly before the start of the free agency legal tampering period that allows teams to speak with outside free agents, the Cincinnati Bengals locked up another one of their own.

Running back Trayveon Williams agreed to re-sign with the Bengals on a one-year contract.

Williams joins offensive lineman Cody Ford, quarterback Jake Browning, and long snapper Cal Adomitis as players with expiring contracts from the 2023 team who will be back in 2024.

There are 14 more Bengals with contracts that expire on Wednesday.

Trayveon Williams Re-Signs With Cincinnati Bengals

Keeping Williams ensures some depth and consistency in a running back room that should see considerable change this year. The Bengals are expected to cut veteran Joe Mixon, and they are likely to add to the group with a veteran or two in free agency and/or draft picks.

Chase Brown, a 2023 fifth-round pick, emerged as the No. 2 to Mixon last season. Depending on what other running backs Cincinnati adds, Brown could step into the lead role in 2024 if/when Mixon is let go.

Williams was a sixth-round pick in head coach Zac Taylor’s first draft class in 2019. He has just 62 career carries for 317 yards and 15 receptions for 74 yards. He is still looking for his first NFL touchdown.

Year 6 incoming.

We have re-signed HB Trayveon Williams. pic.twitter.com/IHPpl5D7pQ

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) March 11, 2024

The Bengals had an open competition for the third-down back role in 2023, after Samaje Perine left in free agency.

But while the bulk of Williams’ snaps came on third down – a team-high 73 of 156 – he never took control of the assignment.

Mixon had 66 snaps on third down, followed by Chris Evans (15) and Brown (eight).

Grade: B+

The impact may not be huge. But there is no down side here.

The fact that the Bengals leaned on Williams on third down more than any other running back shows the trust they have in him, even if he wasn’t everything they wanted out of that role.

Williams also led the Bengals with 12 kickoff returns last season. Evans and Brown were second on the list with just two each.

KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Top 100 Free Agent Rankings

There is a reason Williams is one of the longest tenured Bengals on the team. If the Bengals don’t re-sign Tyler Boyd or Jonah Williams — which is almost a certainty — and if they move on from Mixon — another high probability — Williams would rank third in service time in Cincinnati behind Josh Tupou and Sam Hubbard.

Depth, trust, and versatility all are things the Bengals value. And they’re all things Williams provides at what should be a salary slightly above league minimum.

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