AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Jaguars

Bengals

Bengals WR A.J. Green, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, reiterated that he does not want to play out the 2020 season under the franchise tag.

“When you put that on me, that’s what you’re showing me. You only want me for one year,” said Green, via Ben Baby of ESPN. 

Bengals’ director of player personnel Duke Tobin mentioned recently they have no plans to let Green walk in free agency.

“That’s not the plan,” Tobin said of Green possibility moving on.

Tobin explained his logic for not trading away Green last year. 

“I understand the school of thought,” Tobin said. “If you have a proven guy, it’s better to stay with the proven guy so he can continue to produce.”

Browns

• Jeremy Fowler reports that Vikings assistant GM George Paton was “very” tempted to take the Browns’ general manager job, but felt his situation in Minnesota was too good to leave.  
• Joel Corry notes that Browns have until May 3 to pick up DE Myles Garrett‘s fifth-year option, which would cost them $15.25 million for the 2021 season.  

Jaguars

• The Jaguars currently have negative cap space to work with this offseason, according to OverTheCap.com.
• However, Joel Corry of CBS Sports mentions DT Marcell Dareus and WR Marqise Lee as two players under contract who could be playing elsewhere in 2020.
• Releasing Dareus alone would net the Jaguars $20 million of cap space while creating just $2.5 million of dead money. Releasing Lee would boost Jacksonville’s cap savings to $25.25 million and dead money to $6 million.