5 free agents SF 49ers must avoid signing in 2021
By Peter Panacy
SF 49ers Free Agent to Avoid No. 4: Wide Receiver A.J. Green
A year ago, this might have been a great idea. After all, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green, a seven-time Pro Bowler, was coming off a missed 2019 season because of injury and was seemingly heading towards being phased out by Cincy’s rebuild, namely because of the Bengals trying to feature more of fellow wideouts Tyler Boyd and the rookie, Tee Higgins.
Green managed to stay healthy for 2020, which is good. But the 32-year-old 6-foot-4 former phenom recorded a mere 47 catches for 523 yards and two touchdowns — all career-lows.
It doesn’t seem likely the Bengals will want to retain Green, and it’s possible he’ll want out anyway in order to go somewhere where he can be a bigger part of the offense. And considering his age, it’s likely 2021 will mark the final time he’s able to cash in on a sizable contract.
Yet the SF 49ers already have two young receivers on rookie contracts, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. It’s not totally unlike what Green already faced in Cincinnati with players already ahead of him on the depth chart.
Plus, considering all the injuries the Niners dealt with last season, it would be wise for John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan to exercise some serious caution with players who’ve suffered recent serious injuries.
Despite Green’s health last season and otherwise imposing presence, San Francisco has no need to dabble in free-agent contract discussions with Green any longer.