Spotlighting the Cincinnati Bengals' WR Position Heading into the 2012 Season

The Cincinnati Bengals have found themselves an offensive formula that works, and it's one that has found great success all around the league—pass the ball, and then pass it some more. Aided along by now-second-year quarterback Andy Dalton, the Bengals have amassed receiving talent to maximize his talents.

Let's take a closer look at the Bengals' receiving corps, a group of players who should be embroiled in one of the most exciting and interesting camp battles in the AFC North this summer.

A.J. Green

Second-year receiver A.J. Green is in no danger of losing his spot as the team's No. 1 whatsoever this offseason. Green caught 65 passes on 116 targets last year for 1,057 yards and seven scores. He averaged an impressive 16.3 yards per reception in his rookie season, and 19 of his catches went for 20 or more yards.

This year, with more time to get comfortable with Dalton (this is both players' first full offseason program, thanks to last year's lockout), Green should be even more productive. Though the Bengals' receiving corps has decidedly filled out, Green will remain the No. 1 target. Another 1,000-plus yard season should be easily attainable this year.

Mohamed Sanu

Mohamed Sanu is embroiled in a battle with at least three other Bengals receivers for the No. 2 job this year, and it should continue throughout the duration of training camp and the preseason. Sanu does seem to have the edge at present, though he's not the particularly fastest receiver competing for the spot.

Sanu's good hands and the fact that he's a natural as a possession receiver gives him more than a good shot of being a rookie starter. There's a lot of youth in the Bengals' receiving corps; while for some teams, this may be a liability, it's not for Cincy.

Brandon Tate

Brandon Tate was primarily used as a kick and punt returner when he was with the New England Patriots, and when he came to the Bengals last season, that was his primary function. Tate returned 42 kickoffs for 998 yards and 51 punts for 543 and a score, but didn't notch a single reception.

This year, that may change. Tate worked with the first-team offense at both minicamp and OTAs and performed well enough to impress offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. This doesn't likely mean that Tate will be serious competition for the No. 2 spot, but it does mean that if he remains on the roster, he could actually catch some passes.

Keep in mind that Tate's first-team work might have been simply evaluative and that he has potential to not make the active roster this year. The Bengals could be moving cornerback Adam Jones back to return duties, making Tate superfluous.

The team likely wanted to see if Tate could be a significant contributor to their passing offense; if he's outshined by others, he could be cut. There are, after all, just six spots on the active roster likely going to receivers this year.

Armon Binns

Armon Binns was used mainly on the scout team last year and didn't get any time on the field. However, Binns has looked good in OTAs and minicamp and heads into training camp in a neck-and-neck competition with Sanu for the No. 2 starting job alongside Green.

With praise like this coming from all directions, even if Binns does not beat out Sanu, chances are good he lands a spot on the active roster and could finally see some on-field action.

Jordan Shipley

Geoff Hobson from Bengals.com says that slot receiver Jordan Shipley, who tore his ACL last season, could start the year on the PUP list, citing that the great deal of depth on the roster at receiver allows the team to not rush him back. Shipley has said recently he's been feeling some lingering tightness in the knee, which will likely limit him in this month's training camp.

Shipley appeared in just two games last season, injuring his knee in Week 2; in that time, he caught four of the five passes thrown to him, for a total of 14 yards. If Shipley does get sent to PUP to start the season, it's possible Sanu could line up in the slot instead, especially if he doesn't win the No. 2 starter job.

Andrew Hawkins

If Sanu does get that No. 2 job, then Andrew Hawkins is likely to get a shot in the slot while Shipley is on the PUP list. Hawkins, who was brought onto the active roster from the practice squad in Week 3 last season after Shipley's injury, caught 23 passes for 263 yards. 

Hawkins' roster spot depends heavily on Shipley's recovery and where Sanu ends up on the depth chart. If Shipley appears ready to go in Week 1, Hawkins could be cut or sent back to the practice squad for another year.

Marvin Jones

Before OTAs and minicamp started, it seemed a guarantee that 2012 fifth-round pick Marvin Jones would make the 53-man roster. But now that both Binns and Tate have looked strong thus far, Jones could spend his rookie season as a member of the practice squad.

Jones, however, is a very serious dark horse candidate for the No. 2 job alongside Green. He played in a pro-style offense in college and has the requisite size and route-running abilities for an outside receiver. Jones should be watched very closely in this year's training camp.

Ryan Whalen

Ryan Whalen is firmly and convincingly on the Bengals' roster bubble at the moment. He caught just four passes for 27 yards in his rookie season, and the additions of the more promising-seeming Sanu and Jones in the draft make Whalen's status in Cincinnati quite tenuous as camp nears. 

Whalen will have to make quite a case for himself in camp to become one of the six receivers to make the 53-man roster. Otherwise, he will end up cut from the team.

Justin Hilton

Justin Hilton is an undrafted free agent out of Indiana State who will have to do a lot of impressing at training camp to make it to the 53-man roster. At the very best, Hilton could make the practice squad; otherwise, he'll be cut outright.

Vidal Hazelton

Vidal Hazelton is in the same boat as Hilton. Also an undrafted rookie, he'll have to make an impression just to earn himself a practice squad spot this year. 

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