A.J. Green is returning to the Arizona Cardinals as the team continues to bring back key pieces from its 11-6 playoff appearance last season. The team announced the one-year deal on Thursday.
According to ESPN, the contract includes $3 million guaranteed, with a max value of $6 million.
Green played his first nine seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals before signing with the Cards and enjoying a career resurgence in 2021. The 33-year-old caught 54 passes for 848 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games.
Quarterback Kyler Murray leaned on Green when star wideout DeAndre Hopkins was out of the lineup with various injuries last season. According to Pro Football Focus, Murray targeted Green a team-leading 23 times on third downs, 19 times under pressure, 25 times while blitzed and 14 times in the red zone.
Having a healthy Hopkins in the Cards’ lineup seemed to be a key to not only the entire offense’s success but also Green’s. Green caught over 16% more of his targets and all three of his touchdowns with D-Hop garnering most of the attention from opposing defenses.
Green enjoyed a honeymoon phase for his first seven games, which ended along with the Cardinals’ perfect season on Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers. Due to a miscommunication, Green didn’t turn in the end zone on a Kyler Murray pass attempt, resulting in a game-sealing interception in the final seconds by the Green Bay. The Cardinals lost 27-24, and some fans have not forgiven Green for the play.
With Christian Kirk exiting Arizona for a huge free-agent contract from the Jacksonville Jaguars, it was essential to return Green and his big playmaking ability. Green tied Kirk for the team lead with 11 receptions of 25 yards or more. Green enters 2022 third among active players with 12 touchdown receptions of 50-plus yards.
General manager Steve Keim has now returned running backs James Conner and Jonathan Ward, tight ends Zach Ertz and Maxx Williams, wide receiver Antoine Wesley, and Green from last year’s offense. Meanwhile, Kirk and running back Chase Edmonds are the most significant departures on that side of the football.
Green will slide back into his familiar “Z” receiver role while Hopkins returns to his “X” spot from knee surgery. Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury says second-year wideout Rondale Moore will see an increased role in the offense next season. With Kirk’s departure, Moore could see more routes run in the slot in 2022.
Although bringing back Green provides offensive continuity, it doesn’t rule out the Cardinals drafting a wide receiver in less than two weeks. It’s a deep 2022 receiver class, and a wideout could be in play if the right prospect falls to the Cardinals at 23rd overall. Alabama receiver Jameson Williams is scheduled for a pre-draft visit next week.
Beyond the top six projected first-round wide receiver prospects, the Cards could utilize their other seven draft picks to replace Kirk’s team-leading 77 catches and 982 yards. Prospects Skyy Moore from Western Michigan, John Metchie III from Alabama, Christian Watson from North Dakota State and George Pickens from Georgia could be in play when the Cards pick 55th overall in the second round or 87th in the third round.
Re-signing A.J. Green continues the Cardinals’ theme of maintaining talent on under-the-radar, low-dollar deals. But returning another one of Kyler Murray’s veteran playmakers could take some of the pressure of landing immediate impact-makers in the draft off Keim’s shoulders.
Join us for our live NFL Draft party featuring Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. at The Ainsworth on April 28th at 4 p.m.
