As expected, the Bengals and AJ Green did not agree to an extension of the contract before today’s deadline to do so. Green will now play 2020 under the label before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2021.
That is, unless the Bengals tag Green again, which is unlikely since a second tag costs more than $ 20 million. It is very difficult to see that Cincinnati pays Green like this at this stage of his career.
Therefore, unless an extension is done out of season, next year could be the first year that Green is allowed to enter the open market.
For now, Green will play 2020 in what he hopes will be a recovery season after an ankle injury has cost him the entire 2019 season. Not only has he been unable to play under Zac Taylor’s new offensive system, but 2020 also You’ll see it for the first time with a new full-time quarterback.
Green’s entire career so far has seen him catch passes almost exclusively from Andy Dalton, who was fired this offseason as he was replaced by No. 1 in overall pick Joe Burrow.
The hope is that Burrow and Taylor can get Green back to his prime when he accumulated more than 1,000 yards in five consecutive seasons. He’ll turn 32 years later this month, but the Bengals believe he is still capable of being one of the best receivers in the league.
Let’s hope Green has a 2020 season to show he still has it.
