Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green was one of the league's preeminent players during the previous decade. However,  he sat out the entire 2019 campaign after sustaining torn ligaments in his ankle. With that in mind, his addition for the 2020 campaign could be a major coup to any offense in the league. And NFL analyst Nate Burleson has thrown the New England Patriots into the discussion of teams that could be intrigued by his services.

“Bill Belichick, he once referred to (A.J.) Green as ‘probably the best wide receiver in the league. Evidence suggests that the Patriots are looking for a prime target that Tom Brady can throw to, so a trip to Foxboro isn’t out of the cards,” Burleson said on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.

Whom the Patriots target in free agency will take on added significance this off-season. It will likely be part of a multi-lateral effort to convince Tom Brady to return for a 21st season with the franchise.

Additionally, bringing Green aboard would fit the mold of New England acquiring star pass catchers to piece together alongside Brady. The most recent example comes in the form of fellow seven-time Pro Bowler Antonio Brown, who spent just one game with the organization during this past season.

Green has spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Bengals after he was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He rattled off Pro Bowl selections each of his first seven years in the league before a toe injury stumbled his successes in 2018. While having the franchise tag placed on him still exists as a possibility, Green's football future in 2020 and beyond remains as open as it has ever been before.