NFL Rumors: 10 Wide Receivers Who Can Keep Carson Palmer in Cincinnati

The dynamic duo of Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco (soon to be Johnson) didn't turn up this past season in Cincinnati.

Whether the lack of production surprised us or not, it's pretty evident that Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer needs a more concrete option at wide receiver.

With Owens and Ochocinco obviously not the option, the Bengals definitely need to be looking for a wide receiver via trade, free agency or the NFL draft.

So who should they go after? Here are 10 flankers who could keep Carson Palmer by the river.

Greg Little

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BLACKSBURG, VA - OCTOBER 29: Running back Greg Little #8 of the North Carolina Tar Heels runs with the ball against the Virginia Tech University Hokies during the game at Lane Stadium on October 29, 2009 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Halleran

North Carolina's Greg Little will be in the 2011 NFL Draft pool, despite not playing a down in 2010 due to suspensions.

Off-field issues may be a red flag, which is what Cincy will be trying to avoid, but Little should be a low key guy with plenty of motivation to stay out of trouble and work if given the opportunity.

He's just like his former teammate, Hakeem Nicks, when it comes to talent. He has great size and adjusts to the ball in the air very well.

Little looks like a second- to fourth-round pick, but he could be a project player who could take a passing offense a long way.

He's a wild-card pick here.

James Jones

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Wide receiver James Jones #89 of the Green Bay Packers runs with the football during the 2010 NFC wild-card playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2010 in Glendale, Arizo

Green Bay's James Jones will be a free agent this offseason and may not get the pay of a top receiver from the Packers with Donald Driver and Greg Jennings in front of him on the depth chart.

But aside from occasional drops, James Jones is a big, talented receiver who could definitely start somewhere else.

He caught 50 passes for 679 yards and five touchdowns this past year.

He could be an 80-catch, 1,000-yard guy if given the chance.

Santana Moss

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 21: Santana Moss #89 of the Washington Redskins makes a catch under pressure from Tony Brown #97 of the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field on November 21, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Grant Halverson/G

Santana Moss kind of fell off the NFL map for a few years; however, he made a nice comeback in 2010 with the Washington Redskins.

He caught 93 passes for over 1,000 yards and six touchdowns.

At 5'10", he's a smaller receiver, but he's a Pro Bowl player with big play ability. 

Moss could definitely liven up the Bengals passing game.

Titus Young

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 04: Titus Young #4 of the Boise State Broncos looks on against the TCU Horned Frogs during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 4, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty

If you need a guy who can stretch out a defense, look no further than Boise State prospect Titus Young.

The speedster receiver has had seriously impressive workouts so far and has moved up to a top five receiving prospect in the NFL draft.

Plus, Young is coming out of a pro system in Boise State.

And if you want a guy who's coached up and ready to work, taking a Bronco from the land of the blue turf is always a good idea.

Young is a projected second- to third-round receiver. If Cincinnati could get Young, as well as a wide receiver in the first round, they could fix all of their receiving problems, simply because the top five receiving prospects are that solid.

Yeah, drafting two straight wide receivers seems far fetched, but bringing Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens onto the same roster is even more of a risk in most people's eyes. 

Mike Sims-Walker

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 26: Mike Sims-Walker #11 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs after making a reception during the game against the Washington Redskins at EverBank Field on December 26, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty

Mike Sims-Walker didn't have a huge season last year, finishing with just 43 grabs for 562 yards, but he showed signs of being a touchdown machine and helped bring David Garrard out of the dog house in Jacksonville.

He could do the same for Palmer.

He's a big guy at 6'2", 214 pounds, and is a red zone machine. 

Brandon Lloyd

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DENVER - NOVEMBER 14: Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd #84 of the Denver Broncos heads to the line of scrimmage against the Kansas City Chiefs at INVESCO Field at Mile High on November 14, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 49-29. (Pho

Brandon Lloyd is a big play receiver who would fit perfectly into Carson Palmer's plans.

Lloyd, who surprised everyone by leading the NFL in receiving yards last season without a solidified quarterback, is starting to look like a top player.

But Lloyd could be a financial bargain for anyone who might be able to convince Denver to trade him.

He's been a journeyman throughout his career. He made himself known for insane circus catches in San Francisco before falling off the radar for a few years.

He has not proven to be consistent, but 1,448 yards and 11 touchdowns is what it is. 

I say, go after him.

Julio Jones

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 06: Julio Jones #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide in action during the game against the Louisiana State University Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers defeated the Crimson Tide 24-21.

Want a Terrell Owens without the attitude or the age?

Well come on down to Tuscaloosa and take a look at a brand new, 2011 Julio Jones.

The Alabama junior is heading for the NFL draft and is a definite first-round pick.

He has everything you want in a physical receiver. He runs hard routes, has tons of muscle, good speed and great hands.

Jones is a very rare type of prospect, but one that appears to be a lot like Owens. 

Go back and look at T.O.'s early year tapes and take out all of the plays where he drops a pass.

That's what you are likely getting with Jones.

Vincent Jackson

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SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 12: Vincent Jackson #83 of the San Diego Chargers carries the ball on a reverse against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at Qualcomm Stadium on December 12, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty

Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson will be a free agent this offseason.

This is good news, considering Jackson was a major target during the past year.

He didn't play a lot because of contract issues, which might not bode well for an organization like the Bengals, but he's a perfect fit for Carson Palmer.

The question is, could Jackson be any more content in the Bengals offense than he was with MVP candidate Philip Rivers?

A.J. Green

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 30: A.J. Green #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs prepares to run a pattern during the game against the Florida Gators at EverBank Field on October 30, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

A.J. Green is hands down the most talented receiver to enter the NFL draft since Calvin Johnson came out of Georgia Tech.

He appears to be an immediate option for any team who needs a spark on offense.

He's 6'4", 200 pounds, glides like butter in and out of routes, catches anything within a wingspan radius, runs with formidable speed and can literally adjust his body midair in ways you never thought possible.

Green has shown up going to the Bengals on many mock drafts already, and many are confident a guy like him could completely change the offense in Cincinnati.

Santonio Holmes

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 21: Santonio Holmes #10 of the New York Jets in action against the Houston Texans their game on November 21, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Santonio Holmes will be a free agent this offseason.

Why not bring him back to the great state of Ohio?

If you're talking a fan-friendly option to fix the Bengals' problems, Holmes might be the best answer.

He'd be an instant fan favorite, and therefore could turn people back into believers of Carson Palmer, if productive.

Holmes was an impact player for the New York Jets in 2010. Who's to say he couldn't be even more in a city that would want to see him flourish?