Bengals' Taylor 'expects' Green to be part of the team

A.J. Green's contract will expire once the 2020 season officially kicks off, but the Cincinnati Bengals aren't expected to let the wide receiver hit free agency.

The Bengals reportedly plan to use their franchise tag on Green if necessary, and second-year head coach Zac Taylor reiterated his desire to keep the seven-time Pro Bowler on the roster.

"He's a guy that we're excited about to have part of this team, first and foremost. That’s what matters right now," Taylor said Thursday in his interview on the 'Bengals Beat Podcast.' "As we go through the offseason, we'll figure out how it best fits. But right now, we expect him to be a part of the team. We want him to be a part of the team.

"He's certainly been a valuable member for the last couple years and done some great things. I'm excited to coach him, really for the first time this next season."

Green signed a four-year, $60-million contract with the Bengals in 2015.

Cincinnati hired Taylor as its head coach in 2019, but the star wideout ended up missing the entire season after suffering an ankle injury during training camp.

When healthy, Green has been one of the NFL's best pass-catchers. The fourth overall pick in 2011 made the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven years in the league.

But the 31-year-old has played in only nine games over the past two campaigns, and the Bengals slumped to a record of 2-14 last season.

Cincinnati holds the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.