Tag: 2019 NFL Free Agency

A possible target of the Buffalo Bills will reportedly be taken off the market in the near future, according to ESPN. Many observes of the Bills are clamoring for the team to add wide receiver AJ Green ahead of free agency, but a report indicates that the Bengals are going to try and keep him via the franchise tag:

The Bengals currently plan to franchise tag wide receiver A.J. Green, as they want him in Cincinnati in 2020 either through the tag or a longer deal, sources told @DanGrazianoESPN and me. A good selling point for the team's No. 1 pick.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 1, 2020

As mentioned by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, if the Bengals want to keep him, it’s probably to convince eventual No.1 overall pick, likely quarterback Joe Burrow, that the team wants to win… and win now.

Green’s name was kicked around as a possible option by pundits and fans to fill the Buffalo Bills’ hole at wide receiver. The team is in need of a game-breaking wide receiver, and Green’s No. 1 wide receiver status since entering the league in 2011 would meet that criterion.

The thought of Green helping bolster a developing wide receiver group was a nice thought for Bills fans. He would have undoubtedly given quarterback Josh Allen his best receiver threat as a pro.

Eliminating the prospect of the seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver hitting the open market, the Bills could set their eyes on another crop of free agent wide receivers. On top of that list is Dallas wideout Amari Cooper, although he has hinted that Buffalo is far from the ideal location if he were to leave the Cowboys.

After Green and Cooper, there’s a clear break to the next tier of free agent wide receivers. Emmanuel Sanders, Robby Anderson, Nelson Agholor, Breshad Perriman, and Randall Cobb make up the next-best options for teams searching for help at the wide receiver position.

Green sat out the entire season last year with the Bengals.

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