The One Contract Holding Back the Cincinnati Bengals

After a putrid 2019, the Bengals seem like they made all the right moves throughout the 2020 offseason to jumpstart their rebuild. They got their franchise quarterback in Joe Burrow, depth at wide receiver with Tee Higgins, added secondary help in signing Vonn Bell and Trae Waynes, and even got some defensive line help with DJ Reader.

Even though Cincinnati has been active this offseason, there's one contract restricting from getting even better and expediting their rebuilding process, and that's the one of veteran receiver AJ Green.

At the beginning the offseason, the Bengals franchise-tagged Green, giving him almost $18 million guaranteed after he didn't even play in 2019. That move made the seven-time Pro Bowler the highest paid player on the team.

If Green was healthy, you can see why Cincinnati would do this, because he's accumulated over 1,000 yards every season he's played at least 10 games. If healthy, he could give Burrow a receiver to have immediate confidence in.

The problem is that Green has only played in more than 10 games once over the last four seasons and didn't sniff the field last year. It seems like an unwise move to give almost $18 million guaranteed to a player with such big health issues and what seems to be a clear desire to not be in Cincinnati. The Bengals could've easily re-invested that money to address other issues with the roster considering they already have Tyler Boyd, John Ross and Tee Higgins at wide receiver.

It's tough to knock such a great player in Green, but giving him a payday with his injury status and apparent unhappiness with the team could hinder the Bengals' rebuild.