Kansas City Chiefs: Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson
Justyn Ross had a tough road to the NFL, but now, he’s a player who will be hard to root against as he tries to catch on with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ross burst onto the scene in 2018 with Clemson, catching 46 passes for 1,000 yards (21.7 yards per reception average), with nine touchdowns. He added another 865 yards and eight touchdowns on 66 receptions the next season but then missed all of 2020 due to a spinal injury.
He had surgery to correct the issue and was able to return to the field in 2021. He played 10 games and had 46 receptions for 514 yards and three touchdowns. It was clear he was still getting his legs under him, but what was impressive was an improved route tree that he showed off.
Despite his return, there are concerns going forward. One question is the overall health. Will the spine hold up, or is he going to struggle with health? Another question is whether or not he will ever get that explosion back that he showed early in his career.
The good news is, he landed on arguably the best team for his talent. Ross is best suited for a vertical passing attack that will allow him to use his speed to get downfield, and with Patrick Mahomes under center, that’s exactly what the Chiefs will do.