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Bengals Trading A.J. Green To Patriots, Packers Or 49ers?

Bengals Trading A.J. Green To Patriots, Packers Or 49ers?

The Cincinnati Bengals promise to be an interesting team for many years to come. Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow is only 23 and clearly will be a star in the league. Unfortunately, it is increasingly looking like he and wide receiver A.J. Green will not get to enjoy much time together.

According to ESPN NFL insider Bill Barnwell, the Bengals have had serious conversations regarding moving their 32-year-old receiver while they can still get something of value for him.

“There was serious talk of a Green trade if the Bengals could find a suitor, although it was going to be difficult to find one for even the prorated portion of Green’s $18 million franchise tag,” he said.

Green may not be the player he was in the prime of his career, but he is still very good. Over the past two weeks he has amassed 15 receptions for 178 yards and seven first downs. The big question is what Cincinnati can realistically expect to get in return for him given his age and injury history.

Between 2016 and 2019 Green missed 29 games. That is a lot. Anything higher than a fourth rounder seems out of the question for him at this juncture of his career, but if the Bengals are okay with something in that general vicinity, they will have several notable suitors.

The New England Patriots badly need offensive support for quarterback Cam Newton. Julian Edelman is set to miss time due to a knee injury, and the receiving group was a wreck even when he was healthy. Green presents certain risks, sure, but he would also immediately upgrade the Patriots on that side of the ball.

If not New England, the Green Bay Packers also make for an intriguing dance partner. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is in the midst of a great year, but the loss versus Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers exposed some weaknesses. Davante Adams is a monster, but he cannot be the only legitimate receiving option on a Super Bowl-level team. If Green Bay wants to make a serious run, the front office must add another weapon for Rodgers.

Finally, the San Francisco 49ers are still very much in the thick of things. Their demise has been greatly exaggerated – they just need more offensive weapons. The team has been ravaged by injuries, but Green could go some ways in fixing that problem. Obviously he won’t magically turn Jimmy Garoppolo into Peyton Manning any more than he turned Andy Dalton into Peyton Manning, but he will help.

One way or another, it’s time for Green’s time in Cincinnati to end. The Bengals handled the Carlos Dunlap situation correctly. He had to go, and so they sent him away. The state of affairs with Green is much less dire, but a similar process should play itself out.

The Bengals may not get a ton for Green now, but his value will never be higher than it is heading into this trade deadline. It will only go down from here. The Bengals would be wise to capitalize on it and continue to rebuild around Burrow with receivers and offensive linemen who will serve him well for years to come.

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Charles Kruger

Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7's go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.

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