Moving on from AJ Green is a good move for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow lost one of his top targets on Wednesday.

Wide receiver AJ Green, who spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Bengals, is leaving Cincinnati.

According to a report from ESPN, Green is signing a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

Green played in all 16 games for Cincinnati last season, catching 47 passes for 523 yards and two touchdowns.

Moving on from AJ Green is a good move for Joe Burrow and the Bengals

Green is obviously an all-time great Bengal. And the experience he brought to Cincinnati’s offense was invaluable.

But letting Green walk is an extremely wise move by the Bengals.

Green isn’t anywhere close to the wide receiver he was during the stretch of his career when he reached seven straight Pro-Bowls (2011-2017). The former Georgia standout missed the entire 2019 season due to injury. And he only played in nine games in 2018.

It’s clear that Green is on the backside of his career. And at this point, he’s really not providing the Bengals’ offense any value.

Letting Green go to Arizona will save Cincinnati around $8 million (that’s likely what it would’ve cost to re-sign Green). That money can be invested into the Bengals’ offensive line (which should be the franchise’s primary focus — protect Burrow at all costs).

Cincinnati is in good shape with Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins as the team’s starting wide receivers. And then Auden Tate slots in as a solid No. 3 wide receiver (it’s still possible that Cincy signs another wide receiver).

I’m sure it’ll be tough for Bengals fans to see Green in another uniform this season. But it’s the move that was best for the franchise.

If Cincinnati wants to maximize’s Burrow’s value, they need to make sure he’s protected. Letting Green leave will help the Bengals achieve that goal.