Now that Andy Dalton is under contract for the bulk of the next decade, the Cincinnati Bengals are turning their attention to their best offensive player.
After learning that Dalton had agreed to terms on Sunday, per Peter King of TheMMQB.com, coach Marvin Lewisimmediately texted wide receiver A.J. Green to set the wheels in motion for contract talks.
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The Bengals exercised Green's fifth-year option for 2015 in April, tying him to Cincinnati for $13.236 million over the next two seasons. In other words, his contract situation is not as pressing as Dalton's was entering the final year of the quarterback's rookie deal.
Green's contract will be tricky because he's more valuable than Dalton to the Bengals' offense. Off to a Hall of Fame pace, he's averaged 87 receptions, 1,278 yards and 10 touchdowns through three seasons.
Just 26 years old, Green has no motivation to sign for less than the $12 to 13 million per year range occupied by Percy Harvin and Mike Wallace. More likely, he'll have his sights set on Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson at $16 million annually.
One of the better teams at managing the salary cap, the Bengals have enough space to lock up one of the most productive quarterback-receiver duos in the league.
The latest Around The League Podcast makes sense of Andy Dalton's new contract and takes a look at the Giants' evolving backfield.