Wide Receiver breakdown

The Bengals head into the 2013 season with a lot to prove at the wide receiver position. The Bengals wide receivers started 2012 with a strong showing, but dropped off towards the middle and latter part of the season due to inconsistency and injury. The wide receiver depth chart was filled with inexperience from top to bottom. AJ Green had the most catches on the roster last season based on his rookie year. Brandon Tate, Andrew Hawkins, and Armon Binns were the veterans of the group, but they had never started at the position. Binns ended up getting cut by the team after not being able to get open on a consistent basis. Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu were both talented rookies with illustrious college careers. The wide receivers were solid at times for the Bengals, but with all the turnover at the starting spots from Tate to Binns to Sanu to Jones, the group could never get into a rhythm with quarterback Andy Dalton. Here is what the position looks like in 2013:

AJ Green-Green is the quintessential franchise wide receiver. He is what every team strives to acquire through the draft. After becoming the fourth overall pick in 2011, Green has been electrifying and explosive with over 2,400 yards and eighteen touchdowns in his first two years as a pro. Green is still improving at the NFL level heading into his third season, and it wouldn't be a stretch to see him catch over 100 passes this year. Green is a deep threat and a solid player on the outside to run intermediate routes. Quite frankly, Green can do it all.

Mohamed Sanu-Sanu is one player that the Bengals have extremely high expectations for to excel in the West Coast system. Sanu caught four touchdowns in his three starts with the team, and looked like the most capable player to line up across AJ Green. Sanu can play in the slot and on the outside, and his 6'2, 210 pound frame is hard for defensive backs to take down. He has been taking a lot of snaps as the Bengals' second wide receiver during the offseason program, and could be a player to watch for a breakout season.

Andrew Hawkins-Hawkins was looking like a top target for Dalton during the first ten weeks of the year, but tailed off after defenses figured out how to somewhat neutralize the speedy slot man. Hawkins ended up with 533 yards and four touchdowns, and has the potential to become one of the best slot receivers in the game. He will line up at the slot during a majority of the passing downs this season.

Marvin Jones-Jones looked like a pretty average receiver during his small sample size last season, but the second season in an NFL player's career is for taking that next step. Jones made some nice catches at times, including a touchdown against Baltimore and over sixty receiving yards against the Steelers, but failed to show off his deep speed for a catch over twenty-five yards. Jones will certainly be a nice piece for depth this season, but to see him in the starting lineup would be a surprise.

Brandon Tate-I fully expect Tate to make the team because of his punt and kick returning abilities. Tate is good for a catch or two per game, but has never been the talent that the Patriots thought he would be catching the football when he was drafted out of North Carolina. Tate is the best return man the Bengals have other than a healthy Adam Jones.

Ryan Whalen and Dane Sanzenbacher-Whalen and Sanzenbacher are solid possession receivers who do everything the coaches ask of them, but the Bengals do have more talented receivers on the roster both on the outside and in the slot. Whalen has been the sixth receiver on the last couple of Bengals teams and has shown the versatility to make a roster. Sanzenbacher was one of the better slot receivers Ohio State has had, and had a nice rookie season with the Bears in 2011. He had twenty-seven catches for 276 yards and three touchdowns. It would be a shocker if one or both of Whalen and Sanzenbacher make the active roster.

Cobi Hamilton-Hamilton is at least as good a prospect that Marvin Jones was coming out of Cal last season. Hamilton showed the Bengals that he could be one of the top receivers in the SEC by earning the most receptions in Arkansas history. Hamilton will either start the season on the 53-man roster or the practice squad. For him to grab 20-30 receptions this year would not be a huge surprise.