Veteran receiver AJ Green, one of the most prolific players in the franchise’s history in his 10 years with the Cincinnati Bengals, is finalizing a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals that is worth up to $ 8.5 million, a source told Adam ESPN’s Schefter on Wednesday. .
The deal includes a guaranteed $ 6 million, a source told ESPN.
Green, who will turn 33 at the start of next season, will fill a much-needed WR2 gap for the Cardinals and will be the companion piece for DeAndre Hopkins that the team was looking for. Green has the most receiving yards in the past 10 years, while Hopkins is third.
If Larry Fitzgerald returns for the 2021 season, Arizona may have three future Hall of Fame recipients on his list.
Hopkins essentially loaded Arizona’s pass game in 2020, leading the team with 1,407 receiving yards; the next most productive receiver was Christian Kirk with 621 yards.
Green will give third-year defender Kyler Murray another threat to each defeat, probably on the opposite side of Hopkins’ field.
Arizona had the most sets of three receivers in the last season, accounting for 44.9% of its plays. Sets of two receivers accounted for 29.8% of plays and sets of four receivers for 20.3% of plays.
Green’s contributions to the Bengals have dropped significantly in recent seasons due to numerous injuries and apparent frustrations with his role in the attack.
He finished last season in second place in the history of the Bengals franchise in career receiving yards (9,430), second in touchdowns (65) and second in total receptions (649). Green also holds the team record for most consecutive 100-yard games (five, 2013).
Most of Green’s totals, however, came during the first five years of his career. Beginning with the 2016 season, the former Georgia standout battled countless injuries. From that point on, he lost 29 games, including the entire 2019 season, after suffering an ankle injury in the first pre-season training.
Green played all 16 games in 2020, but had total casualties in a single career season from 47 receptions to 523 yards and two touchdowns. It hit 43.9% of its targets, according to ESPN Stats & Information, the lowest value of any Bengals receiver last season.
He was frustrated at times last season. At week 5 in Baltimore, Green was asked about a parallel exchange in which he seemed to indicate that if the Bengals did not want to use it, they should exchange it. Green minimized the interaction in subsequent interviews.
The Pro Bowl seven-time squad played the 2020 season under the $ 18.2 million one-year franchise mark, after the two sides failed to reach a long-term deal during the off-season.
Josh Weinfuss and Ben Baby of ESPN contributed to this report.