John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals. (USA Today)
John Ross hopes to be traded before the 2020 NFL trade deadline out of Cincinnati.
John Ross made it clear on Twitter he does not want to keep playing for the Cincinnati Bengals.
The former top-10 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft clapped back at a reporter on Friday over his perceived lack of passion for playing the game of football. Ross argued on the contrary in that he loves football, but does not want to play for the Bengals any more. He and his representation have formally requested a trade ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, respectfully. Will Ross get dealt in time?
Will a trade make any difference for John Ross in his NFL career?
Thus far in his four-year NFL career, it’s fair to call Ross a first-round bust. He was taken No. 9 overall in 2017, ahead of Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. While Ross marveled with his record-setting 40-yard dash time at the Scouting Combine, it hasn’t translated into him becoming a star receiver in the league. He only has two catches for 17 yards in three games this season.
So will a trade make any difference for him and his career? Potentially, as a new start may bring out the best in him and remind us why the Bengals used a top-10 pick on the guy out of the University of Washington four years ago. Ross did set career-highs in catches (28) and yardage (506) in 2019, but he did so on a 2-14 team and only played in half of their games.
While Cincinnati may want to trade him, what could the Bengals get in return for him besides a late, day-three pick in the 2021 NFL Draft? Since he’s so unhappy in Cincinnati, maybe he just gets released after Tuesday’s trade deadline and he can star anew elsewhere? Though his time in Cincinnati hasn’t been good, it’s strange to see him want to leave Joe Burrow in his rookie year?
Ross may want out of Cincinnati, but he’s not likely to command any sort of trade market at all.