It appears John Ross would like to continue his NFL career somewhere else, but where could that be?
John Ross might be roaring thanks to his speed, but his days in “The Jungle” are numbed.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Ross is ready for a fresh start. This season, the 24-year-old has been a healthy scratch twice, and only played one snap in the team’s loss to the Colts last Sunday. And despite a long list of injuries that have plagued his career early, there’s still value for someone who can outrun most defensive backs at full speed.
In three-and-half seasons with the Bengals, the former Husky has tallied 51 total catches for 733 yards and 10 touchdowns. And that speed and production talked about? He’s managed to haul in over 100 yards in two total outings.
The question isn’t if he will be traded, but who will be willing to cough up the right offer for a player who boom or bust in a new location?
3
New England Patriots
AFC East
Cam Newton has kept the Patriots relevant in the post-Tom Brady era, and despite sitting at 2-3, New England is far from out of the race in the AFC. That could be a tough tightrope to walk with a limited receiving corps; New England currently ranks 25th in passing yards per game while Newton, who still has a quality arm, has only connected with his target in the end zone twice.
Ross would fill Damiere Byrd’s role as the team’s “Z” target, cementing himself as an immediate upgrade. On the outside, he could bully past defensive backs and even work his way back to overthrown balls or speed up for shots deep downfield. His speed alone should force defensive backs to heavily flank to his side, thus opening plays down low for Julian Edelman and James White out of the backfield.
Bill Belichick has taken lost projects and helped them earn hefty paydays in the past. A late-round selection likely gets this deal done, leading to perhaps a profitable offseason for Ross with whoever signs him.