Could A.J. Green Be a Free Agent Fit For the Ravens?

A.J. Green
Photo credit A.J. Green

By Joe Schiller

For years, A.J. Green has been dubbed the "Raven Killer," but could the veteran free-agent wide receiver join the Ravens this offseason? It's a discussion that's arised early in the offseason with free agency right around the corner. 

After a season where Lamar Jackson led the NFL with 36 touchdown passes, wide receiver still remains a top need in Baltimore. Free agency offers a chance to do that, and Green will be one of the top available pass catchers on the open market. 

Green, 31, has been one of the NFL's top receivers since coming into the league in 2011. He's totaled 8,907 receiving yards and 63 touchdowns, including 1,000 yard seasons in five of his first six seasons. At 6-foot-4, he stands with a height advantage over opposing secondaries and is a lethal possession receiver and big play waiting to happen – when he's been on the field. 

I preface that because Green is coming off a season where he didn't play after suffering torn ligaments in his ankle during training camp. As the Bengals headed towards the No. 1 pick, Green never saw the field. He played just nine games in 2019 while dealing with a toe injury, totaling 694 yards and six touchdowns. 

Any time a talent like Green's hits the open market, he's going to have multiple, sometimes many suitors. The Ravens could be one of those teams looking to pair second-year receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown with a proven veteran.

In terms of cap space, the Ravens currently rank in the bottom third of the league with $28.9 million, according to Over The Cap. That doesn't factor in potential cap casualties like safety Tony Jefferson and offensive lineman James Hurst, but Baltimore won't be in the position to win any bidding wars. And given what we've seen from Ozzie Newsome and now Eric DeCosta, that hasn't been the Ravens' strategy in free agency anyways. 

Spotrac projected Green's market value at $9.1 million annually. They predict he could sign a two-year deal worth around $18 million. Is a veteran receiver who has struggled with lingering injury issues an investment the Ravens want to make? There's no denying Green's talent and what he brings to Baltimore, but the Ravens have important free agent decisions of their own to take care of, including the futures of Matthew Judon, Jimmy Smith, Michael Pierce, and others. 

I'm intruiged by the idea, but Green's injuries worry me. In my opinion I'd rather see the Ravens go after a player like Emmanuel Sanders, who excelled one season after suffering an Achilles injury, or a speedy deep threat like Travis Benjamin or Robby Anderson. 

Would you like to see A.J. Green in Baltimore?