Cincinnati Bengals: 15 greatest wide receivers of all-time
By John Buhler
56. . WR. (2011-present). A.J. Green. 2. player
- 7x Pro Bowl (2011-17)
- 2x Second-Team All-Pro (2012-13)
- 602+ career receptions
- 8,907+ career receiving yards
- 63+ career touchdown receptions
A.J. Green is the lone active NFL player on this list that is still with the Bengals. After all that he has done in his first eight years in the league, Green has done everything to be the No. 2 best wide receiver in Bengals history already.
Drafted No. 4 overall out of Georgia in the 2011 NFL Draft, all Green did was make seven-straight trips to the Pro Bowl from 2011 to 2017. The only reason he probably didn’t make it in 2018 is because he appeared in a career-low nine games this past season. Still, he managed 46 catches for 694 yards and six touchdown grabs in what was a lost year for Cincinnati.
Green was joined in Cincinnati in 2011 by second-round pick in TCU quarterback Andy Dalton. Together, these two have formed one of the most underrated quarterback/wide receiver tandems in NFL history. Dalton isn’t a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, but is a multi-time Pro Bowl quarterback, who has led his team to the AFC playoffs on five occasions.
Green just completed his age-30 season. If he can play at a decently high level into his mid-30s, one has to believe that Canton will be calling when he does decide to hang up the spikes. Six times has Green had over 1,000 yards receiving in a season. Three times has he had more than 10 touchdowns receiving in a season. He has made the All-Pro Second Team twice in 2012 and 2013.
Through the 2018 NFL season, Green has accumulated 602 receptions for 8,907 yards and 63 touchdowns. 1,000 career receptions might be a lofty goal, but he could very well get over 10,000 yards before he calls it a career.
Perhaps even more importantly, Green is within striking distance of Chad Johnson’s all-time marks in Bengals uniform. Should Green finish with more than 751 catches for 10,783 yards and 66 touchdowns, he could undoubtedly be the best receiver in Bengals franchise history. He’s trending that way, but not there yet. Maybe in a few years’ time?