Cincinnati Bengals’ 2010s All-Decade Starting Team
Cincinnati has always been the home of star wide receivers and the 2010s were no different. Following the years of Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the Cincinnati Bengals brought in A.J. Green with the fourth overall selection in the 2011 NFL draft. Over the past decade, they added weapons such as Tyler Boyd, John Ross, Marvin Jones, and Mohamed Sanu.
However, there are clear distinctions for the All-Decade Wide Receivers for the Cincinnati Bengals.
A.J. Green
This is the clear and obvious selection. Drafted in 2011 out of Georgia, Green came in and dominated from the get-go. In his rookie season, Green racked in 65 receptions for 1057 yards and seven touchdowns. Green earned his first Pro Bowl selection in his rookie year and was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the next six seasons to follow.
Unfortunately, Green has only played in nine of the last 32 games of his career. Green missed his first Pro Bowl in 2018 when he missed half the season due to turf toe. Last year, Green missed the entirety of the season due to torn ligaments in his ankle suffered during one of the first few routes of training camp.
Over the course of his nine-year career, Green has caught 602 passes for 8,907 yards and 63 touchdowns. Green ranks just behind Chad Johnson’s 10,783 yards for the team’s career receiving yardage leader. A.J. Green was recently franchised tag for the 2019-2020 season and the Bengals hope to extend him for future years.
Tyler Boyd
A second-round pick out of Pittsburgh in 2016, Boyd started on a rough note for his first two seasons in stripes. However, Boyd struck a chord over the next couple of seasons. Working mainly out of the slot, Boyd used his stellar route-running ability to create separation across the middle.
In 2018, Boyd broke out with 76 receptions for 1028 yards and seven touchdowns. Following his break-out season, Boyd was extended to well-earned four-year, $43 million contract. Boyd was one of the few bright spots on the 2019 Bengals. Over the course of the 2-14 season, Boyd recorded 90 receptions for 1046 yards and five touchdowns.
Tyler Boyd ranks 16th overall on career yardage for the Bengals. He looks to be part of a solid foundation as the Bengals forge a New Dey heading into the Roaring 20s.
Marvin Jones Jr.
Marvin Jones Jr. was selected in the fifth round of the 2012 draft. After slipping to the Bengals, he immediately proved he was a diamond in the rough. After a rookie year of only 18 catches for 201 yards, he improved to 51 catches for 718 yards during the 2013 season.
Unfortunately, Jones was injured during training camp of 2014 and missed the entire season. Jones did not miss a beat when he returned in 2015 for 65 catches and 816 yards. Following the 2015-2016 season, the Bengals failed to pay Jones as top receiver and he left for Detroit where he earned a five year, $40 million contract.
Even with only three real seasons under his belt in Cincinnati, Jones 24th all-time in Bengals career yardage. Over three seasons Jones recorded 134 catches for 1729 yards and 15 touchdowns.