Cincinnati Bengals Film Room: John Ross

Why Bengals Fans Should Be Happy

The most obvious positive that Ross provides the Bengals is a deep threat who will command safety help on every snap he’s on the field. His speed alone makes him a special talent, and it will help keep defenses honest when trying to cover Green, who could continue to post breath-taking numbers (that will be overshadowed by the attention most people pay to Antonio Brown, but whatever).

Now, that alone isn’t why the Bengals drafted Ross with the ninth pick. The comparisons to Cooks raise an interesting point, because Cooks was “only” the 20th pick in the draft when the New Orleans Saints traded up for him. That draft class was loaded at the wide receiver position, but the expectations surrounding a ninth pick at wide receiver are high. Just ask Tavon Austin, who was the eighth pick in his class.

Ross was one of three wide receivers taken in the top 10 of this year’s draft. So the Bengals will hope that he can establish himself as one of the league’s best deep threats and No. 2 options.

There are plenty of risks surrounding Ross as a player, because the NFL is more congested. It’s harder to find space, and it’s nearly impossible to break loose as a wide receiver unless if there is a defensive breakdown. That said, Ross has enough plays in his catalogue that show he can translate to a tighter, more physical environment, and it’s important to keep these examples in mind, especially since a few of them aren’t “receptions” due to circumstances outside of Ross’s control.

More importantly, players with Ross’s unique speed, explosiveness, and agility are meant to succeed. Even with the increase in speed and physicality in the NFL, top-notch players still find a way to be game-breakers. Just take a look at how often DeSean Jackson and Tyler Lockett score game-changing touchdowns that make highlight reels. Ross is a similar talent, but, again, he isn’t all speed.

His quick feet and smooth change-of-direction skills will allow him to run a variety of routes that he didn’t run as frequently in college. As long as the Bengals are smart enough to use him correctly, they should be able to get the most out of his tools. He isn’t a one-trick pony, and he showed signs that his limitations and lack of experience won’t hold him back.

If the Bengals want to improve as an offense, a high degree of their success will be up to their offensive line, which looks weak on paper, and their ability to become more efficient on the ground after averaging just 4.0 yards per carry in 2016. But games often come down to just a few big plays, and the Bengals finally have a second pass-catching option who can swing the game in their favor on just one reception.

Next: NFL 2017: Quarterback depth chart power rankings

I’m not sure it is ideal to have him line up in the slot, but that’s what the Bengals have in mind for savvy second-year man Tyler Boyd. He appears to be well-suited for the step up in competition in the NFL, and he could show new elements to his game when he becomes a complementary piece in an offense with competent supporting players and a safely above-average quarterback.