Chiefs SitRep: Justyn Ross Will Help the WR Corp

.

.

We’ve seen little of WR Justyn Ross as a Kansas City Chief, but he did have a TD vs. Cleveland in the preseason, on August 26th. After that play, my appetite was whetted to see him in action during the 2023 regular season. It didn’t happen, unfortunately. We’ll see where this goes from today forward.

.

Kansas City Star – Photo Credit

.

Young players make mistakes, as well as newcomers to the team. The Chiefs have had their share of mistakes from both categories in 2023. Lining up off-sides cost the Chiefs a game. WR drops have killed drives and TDs and lost games; improperly run routes caused Mahomes to lack valid targets on too many plays where WRs do not run proper routes. OL misses, OL penalties have hurt badly. That is the story that is fleshing out in 2023. The defense is the team’s strength. The Offense has been somewhat abysmal.

Still Unproven Youth With a Ton of Talent

What scared teams off from drafting Ross was a congenital problem with a vertebrae in his neck (fusion of two vertebrae), which was identified and he had fusion surgery as well. Ross also had surgery on his foot in 2021. These factors prevented teams from drafting him.

Enter Veach and signing him as a UDFA.

With Clemson, Ross was extremely productive the two seasons before 2020 which Ross missed completely. When he returned to the Tigers, they had QB problems so it was not conducive to stacking stats. He went undrafted, and the Chiefs signed him, but as everyone knows, this year (2023), Ross was charged with two felonies both of which were cleared last week, and Ross returned to the team on Monday. Bucky Brooks liked the fact that he landed in KC as did Ian Rapoport who observed:

.

“Ross became a big-time playmaker for the

Tigers in his first two years though surgery on a

congenital spinal fusion condition sidelined him

for the 2020 season.”

.

.

Ross showed promise, and then the legal question forced him to sit it out for six weeks. That really hurt!

Productive Collegiate Years

When he returned to Clemson, he started 10 games and finished his collegiate career with a strong showing: 46-514-11.2, 3 TDs. In 2018, Ross was named honorable mention All-ACC selection after leading his squad in receptions: 66-865-13.1, eight TDs. He started 14 games during his Freshman season, and Ross led Clemson in receiving yards as a true freshman without starting a game, catching 46 passes for 1,000 yards, and 9 TDs (21.7 YPC) and nine TDs.

.

.

Dan Harms — of RGR Football — also compiled a few takes on Ross (17:19):

.

.

Undrafted and Signed by KC

Chiefs GM Brett Veach signed Ross, to a UDFA deal. Ross has no NFL experience, for the 2023 games, in large part due to being placed in the commissioner’s exempt list. Now that he’s back with the Chiefs, it remains to be seen if his work with them will produce similar college results of 2018 and 2019.

I liked the fact that Ross was acquired and I believe he will become a productive WR in KC. My enthusiasm waned due to the legal issues, as Ross missed 6 weeks with the Chiefs because of that.

What does the WR Group look like in 2024?

.

1. A high draft pick?

2. Rashee Rice

3. Kadarius Toney

4. Skyy Moore

5. Mecole Hardman

and possibly… 6. Justyn Ross

.

Will Veach sign a top free agent? I doubt that happens. However, it would take the pressure off of the five anticipated wide receivers above. Justin Watson would then be #7. We’ll see. I have already stated that I think Marquez Valdes-Scantling — MVS — will be cut pre-June 1.

Since Ross’ return, I have regained my positive proposition, though I can’t say that we will see him in games in 2023. Hence, my Futures SitRep outlook. My view of Ross is… he is a very inexpensive acquisition which could pay off big time. I would not rule out his participation in 2023. After all, the Chiefs’ WR crew has not looked good all season. Maybe a bit of youthful enthusiasm — he’s still 23 for another 2 days — internally and the offensive players getting a Mahomes message –> stop doing stupid. In any case, Justyn Ross will help the WR crew get going!

.

David Bell — ArrowheadOne

.