Bengals needs: Healthy Palmer only part of solution

The Cincinnati Bengals have spent their most recent drafts trying to upgrade a defense that badly needed it.

Now it's time to look at the offense.

Chad Ocho Cinco should be ready but will pair with Laveranues Coles now. (US Presswire)

With the return of a healthy Carson Palmer at quarterback, the Bengals need to draft to improve the players around him.

Palmer, who is coming off a lost season because of elbow troubles, is one of the NFL's best passers when he's healthy. But he returns to a unit that has some issues.

Both tackles will be new, he has a new receiver in Laveranues Coles, who replaces security blanket T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and the running game is keyed by a castoff (Cedric Benson) who had surprising success last season. Don't even ask about the tight end spot.

When the Bengals won the division four years ago, it was because of the offense. The defense, at that time, wasn't very good.

Now the defense is coming off a season where it finished ranked 12th in the league, while the offense was last in total yards. A lot of that had to do with Palmer's injury, but partly could be explained by the Bengals using their past four first-round picks on defensive players.

It's time to address the offense again. The Bengals pick sixth in the first round, and it wouldn't be shocking to see them take a tackle with that pick. They could also be tempted to take a runner, maybe Ohio State's Chris Wells, a bruising back in the style coach Marvin Lewis wants.

Whatever the position, it's time to give Palmer more help.

QB: With Carson Palmer coming off a season marred by elbow troubles, there is some uncertainty here. The reports are that he has been back throwing with no trouble. If that's the case, the Bengals are fine here. They lost backup Ryan Fitzpatrick to Buffalo in free agency, but signed J.T. O'Sullivan to replace him. Jordan Palmer, Carson's little brother, is the third quarterback.

RB: Cedric Benson played surprisingly well for the Bengals last season, which is why he heads into this season as the starter. Benson showed off the skills that made him a first-round pick by the Bears. Backup Chris Perry has been injury plagued and Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey aren't every-down backs. They could use a blue-chip runner.

WR: Chad Ocho Cinco (Johnson) is back as the No. 1 target, but without fellow receiver Houshmandzadeh, who signed with Seattle. The Bengals signed Coles to take his spot. Coles is faster, which might help the vertical passing game. Chris Henry, provided he stays out of trouble, is a capable third receiver. Young players Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell should be bigger factors in their second seasons.

TE: Reggie Kelly is a good blocker, but they missed on signing Ben Utecht last season. What they found out is what I've said for some time: He's too soft. They would be wise to get a real pass-catching threat at this position at some point in this draft.

OL: They will have two new starting tackles in 2009. They lost Stacy Andrews to the Eagles and Levi Jones reportedly isn't coming back. That puts Andrew Whitworth at left tackle and Anthony Collins on the right side. Whitworth is a guard moving out, although he has played some tackle. They could draft a guy early and keep Whitworth at left guard. They need help at center with Eric Ghiaciuc not coming back, so Kyle Cook or Dan Santucci takes over. Bobbie Williams is solid at left guard.

DL: Defensive tackle Domata Peko is one of the more underrated players in the league. Pat Sims is a wide body next to him who should be better in his second season. Jason Shirley can be a decent backup. Ends Antwan Odom and Robert Geathers need to do more in the pass rush. Backups Jonathan Fanene and Frostee Rucker are capable.

LB: In Keith Rivers, Dhani Jones and Rashad Jeanty, the Bengals have a good trio. Rivers is coming off an injury-shortened rookie season, but he should be an even bigger playmaker this season. Brandon Johnson is a capable backup, but they could add some young backups.

Secondary: They have to be happy with their young corner duo of Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph. They're both coming into their own, especially Hall. Chinedum Ndukwe is a good player at strong safety and Chris Crocker played well last season at free safety. Marvin White is a nice backup at safety, but they need depth at corner.