The Bengals’ whole 2009 season hinges on Carson Palmer’s health.  When he got hurt last season it ended any hopes of the Bengals competing in 2008.  With J.T. O’Sullivan as the new backup instead of Ryan Fitzgerald the Bengals would be only a tad better than last season if Palmer were to get injured again in 2009.  The Bengals do have some players in place on offense that Palmer should have another solid season if he can just stay healthy.  He has a very quick release and a strong arm which really suits this offense just right.  J.T. O’Sullivan won the starting job at the start of last season for the 49ers but he quickly lost it by putting the football on the ground or in opposing DBs hands.  Still, O’Sullivan is a upgrade over Fitzgerald.  Carson Palmer’s younger brother Jordan will be the #3 QB for the Bengals again this season.  But, the Bengals don’t have much faith in him because they had nothing to lose by giving him a chance to play over Fitzgerald last season but didn’t.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON:  B-

30-year old placekicker Shayne Graham was nails last season as he only missed 3 kicks the entire season!  Graham played in all 16 games for the Bengals last season and he made 31 of 34 field goals (91.2%) and all 37 of his extra point attempts.  Look for Graham to have another good season as the Bengals figure to have an explosive offense in 2008.  Graham has now played in 97 games in his NFL career and he has made 152 of 178 field goals (85.4%).  Graham has also converted 233 of 235 (99.1%) extra points in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A

The Bengals have brought in Ben Utecht to battle Reggie Kelly for playing time.  Kelly played in 15 games for the Bengals last season and he caught 20 passes for 211 yards (10.6 avg) without catching a TD.  Kelly will likely be in on running downs while Utecht gets the bulk of the passing downs.  Kelly has now played in 136 games in his NFL career and he has caught 153 passes for 1,511 yards (9.9 avg) with 5 TD grabs.

27-year old Ben Utecht is a huge player at 6′6″, 251 pounds.  He was brought in by the Bengals to give the team another weapon in the passing game.  Utecht played in 14 games for the Colts last season and he caught 31 passes for 364 yards (11.7 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for Utecht to better those numbers with the Bengals as he might be the #3 target in the passing game for Carson Palmer.  Utecht has now played in 41 games in his NFL career and he has caught 71 passes for 800 yards (11.3 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C+

The Bengals drafted 3 receivers to compete for playing time behind Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.  Chad Johnson is an impact #1 WR for the Bengals as he is a big time playmaker.  Johnson has the speed to go the distance and the strength and courage to go over the middle and make a contested grab.  Johnson played in 16 games for the Bengals last season and he caught 93 passes for 1,440 yards (15.5 avg) with 8 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 6 times for 47 yards (7.8 ypc).  Look for Johnson to have another huge season as he is building a Hall of Fame worthy resume’.  Johnson has now played in 108 games in the NFL and he has caught 559 passes for 8,365 yards (15.0 avg) with 49 TD catches.  He has also carried the ball 21 times for 143 yards (6.8 ypc) in his career.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh has great hands and he does all of the dirty work over the middle for the Bengals.  He played in 16 games last season for the Bengals and he caught 112 passes for 1,143 yards (10.2 avg) with 12 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 5 times for 14 yards (2.8 ypc).  Look for Houshmandzadeh and Johnson to give the Bengals one of the most devastating WR combos again in 2008.  Houshmandzadeh has now played in 88 games in his NFL career and he has caught 415 passes for 4,878 yards (11.8 avg) with 33 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 22 times for 133 yards (6.0 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.

5′8″, 183 pound Antonio Chatman is currently the starting #3 WR for the Bengals but that could chance should one of the rookie WRs step up this season.  Chatman played in 13 games (0 starts) for the Bengals last season and he caught 19 passes for 149 yards (7.8 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also carried the ball 1 time for 5 yards last season.  Even if Chatman wins the #3 job at WR for the Bengals he likely won’t put up huge numbers.  Chatman has now played in 64 games in his NFL career and he has caught 93 passes for 966 yards (10.4 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  He also has carried the ball 13 times for 75 yards (5.8 ypc) in his career.

23-year old Glenn Holt also will compete for the #3 WR job on the Bengals.  He played in 16 games for the Bengals last season and he caught 16 passes for 143 yards (8.9 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also carried the football 2 times for 2 yards (1.0 ypc) last season.  Holt will more likely be playing a lot on special teams and in multiple receiver sets in 2008.  Holt has now played in 27 games in his NFL career and he has caught 17 passes for 146 yards (8.6 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also has carried the ball 2 times for 2 yards (1.0 ypc) in his career.

25-year old Marcus Maxwell is a big guy at 6′4″, 205 pounds and he could provide the Bengals with a big target.  He played in 5 games for the Bengals last season and he only caught 1 pass for 5 yards.  He’s a longshot to make the Bengals’ opening day roster.

Rookie Jerome Simpson is on the small side at 6′1″, 193 pounds and he played at a very small school (Coastal Carolina) so he has a huge jump to make to the NFL.  Simpson played in 11 games (all starts) for Coastal Carolina last season and he caught 41 passes for 697 yards (17.0 avg) with 11 TD grabs.  Simpson has a good shot to win the #3 job for the Bengals at WR this season.  He finished up his career at Coastal Carolina having played in 45 games (38 starts) in which he caught 161 passes for 2,720 yards (16.9 avg) with 44 TD grabs.

Andre Caldwell is a rookie from Florida and he can flat out fly as he can run a 4.35 40.  He also has nice size at 6′0″, 207 pounds and should be able to handle the pounding in the NFL.  He played in 11 games (all starts) at Florida and he caught 56 passes for 761 yards (13.6 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  Caldwell was never to go to guy at Florida but the Bengals won’t need him to be one either.  Caldwell played in 53 games (35 starts) in his career at Florida and he caught 185 passes for 2,349 yards (12.7 avg) with 16 TD grabs.

Huge 6′5″, 220 pound rookie receiver Mario Urrutia will also battle for playing time in Cincinnati this season.  He played in 10 games (2 starts) last season for Louisville and he caught 35 passes for 501 yards (14.3 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He was never a go to receiver at Louisville so the Bengals see him as a #4 or #5 WR that helps out on special teams.  Urrutia finished his career at Louisville having played in 34 games (18 starts) in which he caught 130 passes for 1,891 yards (14.5 avg) with 16 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A

27-year old Jeremi Johnson doesn’t is a bit short at 5′11″, but he packs a wallop as he weighs in at 260 pounds.  Johnson is a good runner near the goal line as he always seems to be moving forward.  He also is a good receiver when the Bengals decide to get him the football.  Johnson played in 16 games (9 starts) for the Bengals last season and he carried the ball 7 times for 25 yards (3.6 ypc).  He also caught 6 passes for 32 yards (5.3 avg) with 1 TD grab last season.  Johnson probably won’t get to touch the football much this season either as the Bengals have a lot of depth at tailback.  Johnson has now played in 80 games (50 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 48 times for 141 yards (2.9 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also has caught 55 passes for 269 yards (4.9 avg) with 6 TD grabs in his NFL career.

Converted TE Daniel Coats will be the #2 fullback for the Bengals while also playing tight end on occasion.  Coats is 6′3″, 255 pounds and he’s a good receiver out of the backfield.  Coats played in 15 games (3 starts) for the Bengals last season and he caught 12 passes for 122 yards (10.2 avg).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C+