NFL Trade Deadline 2019: 5 Landing spots for A.J. Green

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CINCINNATI, OH – OCTOBER 28: A.J. Green #18 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs onto the field before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paul Brown Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

While the discussion around trading A.J. Green is mostly speculation, the prospect of the Pro Bowler being traded warrants discussion.

Sitting at an abysmal 0-6, the Cincinnati Bengals seem primed to be sellers at the upcoming NFL trade deadline on Oct. 29. One of the team’s most impressive assets, A.J. Green has been the topic of discussion in trade speculation.

However, per The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr., head coach Zac Taylor has made it clear the team doesn’t plan to trade Green. The Jacksonville Jaguars claimed they had no intention of trading Jalen Ramsey either. That didn’t deter a recent deal that sent the Pro Bowl corner to Los Angeles. No matter what Taylor and Cincinnati’s representatives say, Green is likely on the table. It’s all about finding the right asking price.

Green is in the final year of a four-year, $60 million extension he signed back in 2015. That means he’ll be a rental for the rest of the year and then hit the open market, barring an unforeseen extension. Teams may not want to give up players or picks for Green if he’ll only be with their team for half of a season. Ultimately, this limits Green’s trade market to teams that feel they are in Super Bowl contention this season.

Green, the fourth pick in the historic 2011 NFL Draft, was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons in the NFL. That streak ended last year when Green was held to just nine appearances. Looking at his averages, it wasn’t Green’s worst season statistically, but it only emphasized his growing injury history. Counting this season, Green has missed 19 games since the start of the 2016 season.

When Green is healthy, he’s arguably a Hall of Fame receiver. The former Second-Team All-Pro has averaged 80.2 receiving yards per game during his career and has 602 receptions, 8,907 yards, and 63 touchdowns during his eight-year career. The hope is that he’ll return and put up 80 or more receiving yards per game this season, but it’s hard to predict how much injuries have sapped from the 31-year old.

Depending on Cincinnati’s asking price, these teams could all make moves for Green before the trade deadline.

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