Bengals Select John Ross Ninth Overall In The 2017 NFL Draft
By Tino Bovenzi
Cincinnati used its first round pick on Washington receiver John Ross. Here are the details on the newest Bengal.
The Cincinnati Bengals offense just got a whole lot faster.
The Bengals took Washington speedster John Ross with the No. 9 overall selection in the draft. Ross is the fastest player to ever run at the NFL Combine, blazing through the record books with a blistering 4.22 40-yard dash.
The selection was unforeseen by most analysts and comes as a bit of a surprise. After many teams reached for wide receivers, the Bengals had to get Ross. Adding him delivers a missing element the Bengals offense has never had.
Ross’ best season came last year during the Huskies run to the College Football Playoff. In 14 games, he caught 81 passes for 1,150 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Ross averaged 15.2 yards per reception in his college career, showing just how much of a deep threat he is.
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Ross’ speed is lethal. And adding him to an offense that already has A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert is going to be downright deadly. Andy Dalton better have his arm loosened up because Ross is going to stretch the field like none other. Did I mention he’s really fast?
His 17 touchdowns in 2016 show his big play ability. But other than last year’s productivity, he’s a raw product. He only managed 31 combined receptions in his freshman and sophomore seasons in Washington.
Ross will rely on his speed in his rookie season but will benefit from learning with Green. He should be expected to start in the slot for Cincinnati immediately.
Bengals plans for the Middle Rounds of the Draft
Drafting Ross fills an immediate need on offense but leaves Cincinnati still in need of several players who could be starters come Week 1. Look for the Bengals to address needs on defense in the second and third rounds.
Remaining team needs: Inside Linebacker, Defensive End, Kicker, Tackle, Guard, Running Back
Cincy still has 10 more selections to make over the next days. Stay tuned to Stripe Hype for more Bengals Draft news and analysis.
What do you think of the pick?