2017 NFL Rookie Projections: Cincinnati Bengals WR John Ross
By Zach Goodall
The Cincinnati Bengals selected wide receiver John Ross with the ninth-overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. In Part 9 of a 32-article series, a look at his projections as a rookie.
The Cincinnati Bengals knew one thing as they entered the 2017 offseason: They needed to add another playmaker to take stress off of A.J. Green. That they did, selecting Washington Huskies receiver John Ross with the No. 9 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
The 5-11, 188-pound speedster (he of 4.22-second 40-yard dash fame) gives the Bengals some explosion opposite of Green, who is more of a jack-of-all-trades WR1.
This should help quarterback Andy Dalton a good bit. Sure, he’s had Green to throw to during his entire career, but the WR2 was mediocre last year after losing Marvin Jones to the Detroit Lions after the 2015 season.
Last year, Brandon Lafell recorded 64 catches for 862 yards and six touchdowns as the WR2, but the majority of those stats came after Green went down with a hamstring injury in Week 11. In Weeks 12-17, Lafell recorded 31 catches for 443 yards and two scores.
With Ross able to play both outside and in the slot, he immediately adds speed to the receiver corps and allows Lafell to be a third receiver and complementary piece. He can take the top off of defenses and open up the middle of the field for Lafell and Green, as well as make his own plays all over.
Ross also can be a factor on special teams as a returner. In his four years at Washington, he returned 86 kickoffs and averaged 24.1 yards per return. Four of his kick returns went for touchdowns.
While he has an injury history after having surgery on both of his knees, he won’t be relied on as a No. 1 receiver in Cincinnati, and that will likely add years onto his career. He should be able to make an immediate impact as a Bengal, and I project him to record 40 catches for 700 yards and five touchdowns in 2017.
Next: NFL Power Rankings 2017: Post-minicamp edition
With the addition of Ross and running back Joe Mixon in the first two rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Bengals suddenly have a solid arsenal of weapons for Andy Dalton to take advantage of.