[More Cowbell]

As for the Bengals, this would be a great trade. Houshmandzadeh would be a great receiver to replace Johnson, and Brian Urlacher would make your defense better (Yet, there defense would still be pretty bad). This would be a great team which would be a wild card contender. (They probably wouldn't win their division against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cleveland Browns, or the Baltimore Ravens.

Actually, their defense carried the Bengals this year, and is the only reason they aren't 0-16 like the Lions. Check the stats, the Bengals ranked 12th in the league this year in defense. Consider the fact that they played most of the year without their top pick from last year, Keith Rivers, and that's pretty good. The defense seems to be heading up.

And you're right that they won't win their division next year, but I seriously doubt that the Browns will be any reason they won't win it...

As for the trade, though, I still would make it. Johnson wants out, and I think if he went to a new team he would play harder and do better than he did this past season for Cincy. A fresh start would probably be good for both players.