(from left, Clyde Logan, Brandan Anson, Mario Urrutia, Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell)

In his first trip into Paul Brown Stadium as a Cincinnati Bengal, Jerome Simpson made a lap around the locker room until he found the locker right in the middle belonging to Chad Johnson.

The locker still has a leather jacket in it, left from a time when Johnson still showed up. Simpson was one of three wide receivers drafted by the Bengals with an eye on Johnson living up to his promise to sit out the 2008 season and the team's on-going game of chicken with the superstar receiver, as well as Pro Bowler T.J. Houshmandzadeh's impending free agency following the season and the release of Chris Henry.

"Coming up soon, one of those will be my locker," said Simpson, the Bengals' second-round pick out of Coastal Carolina. "I'm going to work hard so I can come on the field and earn one of those lockers."

Marvin Lewis drafted Simpson, Andre Caldwell and Mario Urrutia to not only take over the lockers of the Bengal receivers, but to replace them on the field as Carson Palmer's targets.

As the three joined the other seven players drafted by the Bengals and college free agents and tryout players at this past weekend’s rookie mini-camp, the receivers stood out. Palmer came the first day to watch his younger brother, backup quarterback Jordan Palmer, get first crack at his new toys.

"I like them," Palmer said after the team's first workout on Friday. "Urrutia can go get it. He's Chris Henry, but thicker and he can run."

Carson Palmer got in touch with Simpson shortly after he was drafted.

"He called me on Sunday or Monday. I told him I was ready to go to work with him and learn," Simpson said. "He seemed like a real nice guy, his brother's a real nice guy, so I'm sure it runs in the family. (Jordan) throws real good, '’m expecting better out of his big brother."

Caldwell, a third-round pick out of Florida, noticed his new quarterback watching practice and was impressed to see the team's leader on the sideline.

"It means a lot. He doesn't have to be out there. He's out there watching us in his spare time," Caldwell said. "I've seen what he did in college and the NFL, I can't wait to catch passes from him."

The Bengals coaching staff is betting on Caldwell, Simpson and Urrutia doing just that, perhaps instead of Johnson and Houshmandzadeh.

During the minicamp, Simpson displayed a knack at amazing catches that he showed at Coastal Carolina, diving and catching most of what was thrown at him. Caldwell's shiftiness was on display, and could be used similarly to Peter Warrick in his prime. And Urrutia, one look at the 6-foot-5 Urrutia shows he can be a dangerous target. Tight end Matt Sherry, a sixth-round pick out of Villanova, was also impressive.

"I thought Matt Sherry, as things went along, really made me go 'wow' as we got in to one-on-one stuff with tight ends and receivers against linebackers and safeties," Lewis said. "I thought our receivers, Simpson and Caldwell, did a great job that way."

Many more of those wows will be expected. Sherry and Simpson played at Div. I-AA schools, and Simpson was drafted over more hyped players. Three receivers were taken in the seven picks after Simpson was selected with the 46th overall pick -- Cal's DeSean Jackson (Eagles), Oklahoma's Malcolm Kelly (Redskins) and Texas' Limas Sweed (Pittsburgh).

Because Pittsburgh's a division rival and Sweed was considered by many analysts to be the top receiver in the draft. Because of that, Simpson will be compared to Sweed for the rest of their careers.  But even before Oct. 19 when the two meet on the field for the first time, Simpson, Caldwell and Urrutia will have other comparisons -- to Johnson, Houshmandzedah and Henry. Those are big shoes -- and lockers -- to fill.

Simpson