It doesn't take rocket science to figure out that the New England Patriots need help at wide receiver. Football analytics firm Pro Football Focus would tell you that.
Entering the 2020 offseason, PFF has wide receiver as a team need for the Patriots. They see A.J. Green as a natural fit for them in free agency.
“This is a guy that I'd love to see go to the Patriots,” PFF's George Chahrouri said of Green on The PFF Forecast podcast. “Because they're a little bit of an older team and I think he would probably value the opportunity — having lived in Cincinnati for his entire life or pro career — to compete for a championship.”
Green, 31, has spent his entire career with the Bengals since they made him the No. 4 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He made seven straight Pro Bowl appearances to start his career before injuries derailed his 2018 and 2019 seasons.
A toe injury forced Green to miss seven games in 2018. The next season, he came in healthy, until he suffered torn ligaments on his ankle. The belief, at the time, was that he would have surgery and return midway through the season. However, he never played a snap in 2019, as he suffered setbacks throughout the season.
For the Patriots, Green stands as a high risk, high reward signing. His recent injury history is problematic and will surely hamper his value in contract talks. However, his upside as one of the NFL's best at a premium position may be too good to pass up — if he hits the open market.
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