Newly-retired A.J. Green has an intriguing case to make to the NFL Hall of Fame

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver A.J. Green, who at one point was better known for his time with the Cincinnati Bengals, has announced his retirement from the NFL.

Green played 11 NFL seasons after being taken by the Bengals with the 4th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He missed the full 2019 season due to injury and may go down as one of the biggest "what ifs" in recent NFL history because the fact that injuries seemed to oftentimes hamper his other-worldly talent.

With that said, there is a case that can be made for Green as an NFL Hall of Famer. That case would have to rest on his production early on in Cincinnati, though, where he was easily one of the best wide receivers in the league from 2011 through 2017.

Green came in as a rookie out of Georgia and immediately lit up the NFL scene. Playing with a young Andy Dalton, who the Bengals drafted with their second pick in 2011 (No. 35), Green put up 65 catches for 1,075 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie — earning the first of his Pro Bowl honors.

The 6-foot-4, 207-pound athletic freak of a wideout put up five more 1,000-plus yard receiving seasons, including 1,350 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2012 and 1,426 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023. In both seasons he was honored as a second-team All-Pro.

Green was never the same after he missed the full 2019 season because of an injured ankle and he probably never lived up to expectations with the Cardinals. With that said, he still put up 1,084 yards and five touchdowns in two seasons in Arizona, proving that he still was able to play a role despite being an auxiliary member of the offense at that point in his career.

"Thank you. Thank you to all who have supported, encouraged, and inspired me throughout my career. Special thank you to the University of Georgia, Cincinnati Bengals, and Arizona Cardinals for the opportunity to pursue my dreams. I've stayed true to the game and it owes me nothing. Be blessed...Love y'all! The next chapter begins..," Green wrote on Instagram. 

Could the next chapter for Green include a gold jacket? That's a high bar to get over, but considering Green was one of the best wide receivers in the NFL for the better part of a decade -- he should keep his measurements on hand.