32-year old Chad Ocho Cinco might not have to face as many double teams in 2010 due to the other receivers the Bengals have brought in. Ocho Cinco played in 16 games (15 starts) for the Bengals last season and he caught 72 passes for 1,047 yards (14.5 avg) with 9 TD grabs. He also carried the ball 3 times for 32 yards (10.7 ypc) last year. He has now played in 137 games (120 starts) in his 9 years with the Bengals and he has caught 684 passes for 9,952 yards (14.5 avg) with 62 TD grabs. Ocho Cinco also has carried the ball 24 times for 175 yards (7.3 ypc) in his NFL career. Ocho Cinco has made 6 Pro Bowls in his NFL career and he’ll be hoping to make a 7th in 2010.
29-year old Antonio Bryant was brought in as a free agent over the off-season and he will be a threat opposite of Ocho Cinco. Bryant played in 13 games (11 starts) for the Buccaneers last season and he caught 39 passes for 600 yards (15.4 avg) with 4 TD grabs. He has now played in 106 games (82 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 372 passes for 5,685 yards (15.3 avg) with 30 TD grabs. Bryant has also carried the ball 11 times for 65 yards (5.9 ypc) in his NFL career. Bryant has more speed than Ocho Cinco and he will be able to help stretch the defense in 2010.
Rookie Jordan Shipley is penciled in as the #3 WR as training camp begins. He was a 3rd round pick out of Texas. Shipley is on the thin side at 6’0″, 193 pounds but he’s quick and doesn’t mind going over the middle. Look for him to get a lot of work in 2010 if he enters the year as the #3 WR for the Bengals.
25-year old Andre’ Caldwell will likely be the #4 WR for the Bengals this year. Caldwell played in 16 games (3 starts) for the Bengals last season and he caught 51 passes for 432 yards (8.5 avg) with 3 TD grabs. He also carried the ball 3 times for 22 yards (7.3 ypc) last season. Caldwell has now played in 23 games (7 starts) in his two years with the Bengals and he has caught 62 passes for 510 yards (8.2 avg) with 3 TD grabs. Caldwell has also carried the ball 8 times for 75 yards (9.4 ypc) in his NFL career. He is a possession type receiver who will see his role shrink a bit on offense in 2010.
27-year old Matt Jones was signed as a free agent over the off-season. He’s a talented player if he can keep his nose clean…..which means he fits right in with the Bengals. He did not play last season in the NFL. Jones has played in 54 games (15 starts) in his NFL career so far and he has caught 166 passes for 2,153 yards (13.0 avg) with 15 TD grabs. He has also carried the ball 14 times for 36 yards (2.6 ypc) in his NFL career. Jones will have to fight for a job in training camp if he wants to continue getting paid to play football.
27-year old Quan Crosby will likely play a lot more on special teams than he will at WR for the Bengals in 2010. He played in 16 games (0 starts) in his first year with the Bengals and he caught 4 passes for 55 yards (13.8 avg). He also carried the ball 1 time for -2 yards last season.
Rookie Dezmon Briscoe will battle for a spot on the WR corps for the Bengals this summer. He was a sixth round pick out of Kansas. He is a tall WR at 6’2″, 207 pounds and he’s a possession type receiver who lacks big time speed.
PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BENGALS WRs in 2010: B