The 2016 NFL season is right around the corner, and the Bengals brass will spend all summer evaluating which 53 of the 90 players on the team's offseason roster will make the final roster come September.

It's never an easy job to decide the roster and one of the positions that will be toughest for the Bengals' staff to evaluate is wide receiver. Behind two veterans, the Bengals' wide receiver position is wide open for the taking. Who will step up and grab the available roster spots? That's yet to be determined, but here's what we know as of July.

Wide receivers coach: James Urban

Returning from 2015 roster: A.J. Green, Brandon Tate, James Wright (Injured Reserve), Mario Alford

Returning from 2015 practice squad: Jake Kumerow, Michael Bennett

2016 additions: Brandon LaFell, Tyler Boyd, Cody Core, Alex Erickson, Antwane Grant, Alonzo Russell, Rashaun Simonise

Locks

A.J. Green

There's not much that needs to be said here. Green is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. With the departures of Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu, Green will need to be ultra-productive for the Bengals to replicate the unit's 2015 success, though he and the rest of his team certainly hope a second wide receiver will emerge to help ease the pain of the losses.

Brandon LaFell

LaFell, entering his seventh season, is coming off a down year in New England in which he tallied just 515 receiving yards. His 2015 struggles can be partially attributed to a foot injury that caused him to start the season on the PUP list, but his struggles with drops cannot be attributed to this injury. LaFell will see plenty of single-coverage in 2016, which means that drops will be inexcusable. In a contract year after he didn't generate much interest on the open market, LaFell will be playing for what will more than likely be his last chance at a big contract. And considering he'll be option number three or four in the Bengals' passing game and number four or five with the running game factored in, LaFell needs to make the most of every opportunity he has to touch the ball.

Tyler Boyd

The Bengals seemed extremely confident they'd have Marvin Jones back for 2016, but when he made the decision to sign with the Lions, the need for a number two wideout became increasingly evident. The Bengals hope LaFell can serve as a competent number two in 2016 and beyond, but in case he's only a one-year bridge, the team drafted Boyd in the second round of the 2016 Draft. Boyd figures to immediately start at the slot position, and the Bengals hope he can become an impact player for years to come.

Near-Locks

Brandon Tate

If the Bengals ever part ways with Brandon Tate, it will most likely be after the 2016 season. Like LaFell, Tate is playing on a one-year deal and is one of only three players with significant NFL experience among the Bengals' receiving corps. Tate will most likely make the Bengals' 53-man roster due to his role as the team's return specialist. At this point in his career, Tate a below-average return man; however, the Bengals haven't been fortunate enough to be able to find a player who can replace him in the return game.

Cornerback Adam Jones would be the perfect candidate to do so, but because the Bengals rely on him so much on defense, they would rather sacrifice the extra yards on special teams to keep Jones healthy and rested. The same can be said about Giovani Bernard, who was once a hot candidate to replace Tate but eventually realized he wouldn't have that chance due to his importance on offense. And, there's nothing to prove he showed he was capable of taking on the job.

If one of the players behind Tate can outperform the veteran, he'd have a hard time making the roster. However, that's apparently easier said than done, because Tate has remained on the Bengals' roster for years. In fact, of all the wide receivers in the NFL, only the Falcons' WR/returner Eric Weems (118) has played in more consecutive games than Tate (96). Perhaps it's Tate's durability that is so appealing to the Bengals, because no one has been able to supplant him as the return man. As a result, Tate is on the fast track toward a roster spot.

Cody Core

The Bengals took fans by surprise in selecting Core, a raw yet incredibly talented wide receiver out of Ole Miss in the sixth round of the 2016 Draft. Though he's a bit different than the departed Marvin Jones, Core is similar in a couple of ways. Like Jones, who was the number two behind Chargers standout Keenan Allen at the University of California, Core was also the number two option in his college's passing game--behind Vikings first-rounder Laquon Treadwell. Additionally, the two players are near-identical when it comes to measurables--they're 73.7 percent similar, per Mock Draftable.

Coming out of Cal, Jones had a tough time separating from defensive backs using his speed but looked like a huge potential deep threat if he could eventually learn to create separation. Similarly, Core has the perfect size and leaping ability to be a potential deep threat. He doesn't have great acceleration or hands, so it will be up to James Urban and the rest of the Bengals coaching staff to help Core progress as a player. Again, Core is a poor man's Jones at this point, but he has the potential to be just as good as the former Bengals wideout. Only time will tell whether Core can reach his ceiling like Jones did.

Given the fact that the Bengals used a sixth-round pick to acquire Core and have talked him up throughout the offseason, it's hard to envision the team cutting him or even just putting him on the practice squad. Cincinnati invested the draft capital for a reason, so Core has a good chance of making the roster.

Strong Bubble

James Wright

If for nothing else, Wright's special teams prowess makes him a strong candidate as a potential number six receiver. The former LSU product has only tallied 30 career receptions since graduating high school, but the Bengals deemed him worthy enough of a seventh-round selection in 2014. Though Wright is coming off microfracture surgery, which is a big deal, he's been on the Bengals roster longer than the two players he'll likely be competing with, which is a big competitive advantage. To make the roster, Wright will need to prove that he's still as reliable on special teams today as he was in 2014. He'll also need to show progression as a receiver and demonstrate that he's capable of staying healthy.

Jake Kumerow

As ESPN's Coley Harvey put it in his projected 53-man roster, "one of the toughest training-camp decisions confronting coaches will be choosing between Kumerow's consistency as a no-drop pass-catcher or keeping the less consistent Mario Alford on the roster for his special-teams versatility." Kumerow's hands have reportedly been as reliable as they come throughout the offseason, which will be hard for the Bengals to pass up, but we'll see what happens when the pads come on later this summer. That being said, the former Division III wideout needs to prove he can handle himself on special teams. Here's the bottom line: If Kumerow can prove he's capable of playing special teams, he's going to make the roster. He's the most physically gifted receiver of the strong bubble candidates, but he needs to prove he's as versatile as he is talented.

Mario Alford

Alford is a skilled special-teamer, but he's not on a very long leash. He's yet to beat out Brandon Tate for the Bengals' return man duties and he has been reported as having struggled with drops throughout the offseason. Alford has plenty of work to do before he can earn a spot on the Bengals' 53-man roster.

There's a reason why Dwight Freeney and Anquan Boldin are still in the NFL, despite being free agents: if you're really, really good at doing one thing and one thing only, NFL teams will call your name. Freeney, despite being 36-years-old, is an outstanding pass-rusher. Boldin, 35, has hands like glue. Though both players have glaring weaknesses to their games, their abilities to be great in one facet of their game has lengthened their respective careers.

The one thing Alford has is elite runaway speed. There are two ways a wide receiver can use that trait: returning kicks/punts and hauling in deep passes. If Alford can't prove he's a reliable return man or a deadly deep threat, there's little to no chance he makes the Bengals roster. If he can prove to be one or both of the two, he's all but a lock. Though Alford has disappointed so far this offseason, he still has training camp and the preseason to prove himself. Don't count him out yet.

Weak Bubble/Practice Squad Candidates

Alex Erickson

From what Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson has indicated, it looks as though Erickson is the best of the rest when it comes to the Bengals' undrafted receivers. He has shown good hands throughout the offseason, and he can even catch punts. It would take a near-miracle for Erickson to latch onto the 53-man roster, but he's still a good bet for the practice squad if he can continue to show signs of promise.

Alonzo Russell

Right alongside Erickson is Alonzo Russell, who is a physical specimen at 6-foot-4, 206 pounds. He'll need to be willing to play and improve on special teams to earn practice squad consideration, but he'll be in the conversation as a practice squad candidate throughout the offseason.

Michael Bennett

Bennett's strongest advantage over Erickson and Russell is the fact that the Bengals signed him to the practice squad in December of last season after Keith Wenning was promoted to the active roster to back up AJ McCarron at quarterback in the wake of Dalton's thumb injury. He also spent some time on the 2015 offseason 90-man roster. Erickson and Russell have impressed a ton this offseason, while we really haven't heard much in regards to Bennett. As of now, it looks as though Bennett is just another camp body, which means he'll have to play some of the best football of his life to even garner consideration for the practice squad. Demonstrating a willingness to compete on special teams, as well as impressing with his hands--like he did at the University of Georgia--would go a long way for the former practice squad wideout.

Antwane Grant

Grant is a slot receiver, which means that he'll really need to compete to earn a shot on the roster, considering the Bengals believe they have their slot wideout of the future in Boyd. Grant was a solid receiver in his time at Western Kentucky, tallying 1,210 receiving yards and 14 total touchdowns in two seasons, but he'll need to be even better to earn practice squad consideration. It's hard for slot receivers to make a name for themselves with limited size and speed. Grant has reliable hands and is pretty versatile--he played corner, safety and running back at times during college--but he'll need to develop quickness and excel on special teams to have a realistic shot at Cincinnati's practice squad.

Rashaun Simonise

The Bengals signed Simonise as a free agent following the Supplemental Draft, during which nobody was selected. The Canadian wide receiver will have a lot to prove this summer but he has the talent to succeed at the NFL level. If you haven't already, check out our interview with Simonise to learn more about him. It will be interesting to see how Simonise transitions to NFL rules after playing at University of Calgary in Canada, so that will be something to keep an eye on as Simonise attempts to make the Bengals' roster or practice squad as a rookie.