Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green is set to become a free agent on March 17, which marks the end of a one-year, $18 million franchise tag contract.
The Georgia legend was drafted by the Bengals with the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and has had an incredible 10-year career in Cincinnati, especially when you consider the state of the Bengals organization.
Paired with the arm of former TCU quarterback Andy Dalton from 2011-2019, Green caught his way to seven straight Pro Bowls and was named by his peers in the NFL Top 100 each year until 2020, when Green struggled with injuries and the new turnover in Cincinnati.
The Bengals hired head coach Zac Taylor who brought in a new offense and a new quarterback in No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow, but even with Burrow heathy for the first half of the season, Green just never looked comfortable with the offense and his injury issues made the gap larger.
ESPN’s Ben Baby quotes Green here after the Bengals loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 14.
“I love my time here,” Green said. “Who knows what is going to happen? I will be ready for anything and be excited to get back to playing football whether it is here or somewhere else.”
Green’s injuries were minor and the 32-year-old still sounds like he has gas in the tank. The question is where to now?
If Green is looking for a title contender, I’d say look now further than the L.A. Rams, who just acquired Green’s college quarterback, UGA great Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions.
Wherever Green winds up, I hope he finally gets a chance to play in a Super Bowl.