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49ers free agency reports: Bengals plan to tag A.J. Green

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 20: A.J. Green #18 of the Cincinnati Bengals makes a 37-yard catch against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 20, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 20: A.J. Green #18 of the Cincinnati Bengals makes a 37-yard catch against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 20, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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For those wondering if the San Francisco 49ers could go after standout wide receiver A.J. Green in NFL free agency, reports suggest the Cincinnati Bengals are planning to tag him.

The idea of seeing seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Green in a San Francisco 49ers uniform sure sounded enticing.

Green, the 31-year-old Cincinnati Bengals wideout who missed a sizable chunk of 2018 due to injury, only to miss all of the following year with a serious ankle injury, is poised to hit the free-agent market amid what looks to be a complete offensive shakeup for the Bengals this offseason.

So it’s no surprise many thought the Niners could at least be intrigued at the idea of bringing him aboard in 2020. After all, San Francisco could possibly lose its own veteran wide receiver, Emmanuel Sanders, and head coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t have a lot of proven depth at the position elsewhere on the roster.

And no bona fide No. 1 threat, either.

But whatever the slim hopes the cap-strapped 49ers had to lure in Green took a major hit Sunday, when reports broke the Bengals are planning on placing the franchise tag on the 6-foot-4, 210-pound pass catcher.

ESPN broke the news Sunday afternoon:

Green reportedly wants a long-term deal, and the Bengals have nearly $45 million in available cap space, currently. Cincinnati is also expected to use the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft on LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, so keeping some established offensive weapons around for Burrow’s development, despite some likely offensive changes, sure makes a lot of sense.

Meanwhile, for San Francisco, Shanahan will look to get even more out of second-year pro Deebo Samuel, who after a slowish start to his rookie campaign, emerged as a legitimate starting option en route to the 49ers’ Super Bowl run.

Additionally, the 2020 draft is laden with more than enough talented wide receivers to address any depth concerns Shanahan and Co. may have heading into the upcoming season.

Next. 3 low-cost wide receivers 49ers can pursue in free agency. dark

Regardless, envisioning a player like Green in a Niners uniform, despite his age and recent injury history, lends credence to the idea San Francisco could have been very interested in trying to bring him aboard if no franchise tag was put in place.

And the contract value was right, of course.