John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals
John Ross’ NFL career hasn’t gotten off to the booming start many expected after he broke the 40-yard dash record at the 2017 NFL Combine. In fact, one stat has him as the worst receiver of 2018.
Bengals receiver John Ross gets the award for worst wide receiver of the season.
The NFL average was 7.601 yards/target. Without Ross, the NFL average would have been 7.615 yards/target! pic.twitter.com/XDUr94ezCI
— Football Perspective (@fbgchase) January 3, 2019
That being said, Ross is just 24 years old and he’s under team control until 2022 on a contract that never exceeds $6 million. Perhaps a change of scenery would help him find the potential many fans and analysts predicted after her was drafted ninth overall in 2017.
Ross was forced into just three games his rookie season after suffering a shoulder injury. As a sophomore he appeared in 13 games, starting 10 and catching 21 passes for 210 yards and seven touchdowns. Had he qualified, his 16.2 yards per catch would’ve ranked 10th among all pass catchers in the NFL.
The former Washington product had a prolific college career that saw him catch 114 passes for 1,729 yards and 22 touchdowns over three seasons. Entering the draft he was praised by many analysts including Pro Football Focus, who compared him to DeSean Jackson. PFF wrote:
While his speed is obviously his biggest asset, it’s not all Ross has. He knows how to get open using his footwork and can beat press coverage off the line with both his feet and his hands. He catches the ball consistently and once it’s in his hands, there’s very few better at seeing the field and finding open space. Ross can line up all over the field and make plays. Ross has the potential to be one of if not the most exciting receiver to come out of this draft.
Outside of just PFF, many other draft analysts considered Ross one of the best receivers in the 2017 draft class. New Raiders’ General Manager Mike Mayock had Ross as the second best wide receiver in the class, ahead of eventual No. 5 overall pick Corey Davis.
He was the first wide reciever taken in Mayock’s 2017 mock draft. Oakland’s new GM referred to Ross as a, “dynamic playmaker.” Clearly, Ross has some fans inside the Raiders’ new front office.
As for the Bengals, the team saw a breakout season from number two receiver Tyler Boyd in 2018. The former Pitt Panther caught 76 passes for 1,028 yards and seven touchdowns. Assuming his health is in check, he will enter next season as WR2 to A.J. Green’s WR1. The Bengals might be willing to trade Ross for a draft pick as the team has multiple needs on the defensive side and Ross is no higher than their WR3.
Ross has battled injuries during his time in the NFL and hasn’t lived up to his pre-draft hype. However, he still has his blazing speed and has proven he has the ability to make big time plays. Ross would work as the Raiders deep threat and could see a career resurgance in a new offense manned by quarterback Derek Carr.
