No player makes the most and least sense as a trade target like A.J. Green. Every reason to trade him has a counterreason for why it probably won't happen.
The case for a deal is clear. At least four contenders need a No. 1 receiver, creative general managers are pulling off major trades without blinking, and an elite 2020 free agent watches from the sidelines as his winless Bengals try to preserve the anti-tank sanctity.
Even Green himself seems to understand all of that with his ready-for-anything tone with the local media.
But Green hasn't been healthy in months and isn't practicing this week, which means his only showcase before the Oct. 29 trade deadline would be Week 8 against the Los Angeles Rams. The Bengals are on the record saying they won't trade Green (which doesn't mean much, as Jacksonville just proved with Jalen Ramsey), and the franchise is fiercely loyal to its players.
The only thing left to do is shake out all the scenarios, with help from sources around the league, evaluating Green's worth on the trade and free agent markets, which teams make the most sense and how the player might age.
Jump ahead: Trade fits | Free-agent option
What happens if the Bengals don't trade him?
What's the biggest concern with Green?
That's easy: age and health. Green, 31, is all but guaranteed to rack up 1,000-yard seasons when healthy, but he can't be relied on for that anymore.
Green has missed 19 games and counting since 2016, mostly due to lower-body injuries. That's more than a full season since he signed a four-year, $60 million extension that expires after this season.
Right toe issues derailed his 2018 campaign, and a torn hamstring cost him six games in 2016.
His latest issue is not a routine ankle sprain either. Teams become leery any time torn ligaments are involved, which is reportedly the case here.
Considering the time missed -- he hasn't practiced since July -- many teams want to see him actually move around before entertaining an offer. That gives him limited reps to remind observers of what he does best, if he makes it back by the Rams game.