John Ross – Washington
Coming into the offseason, everyone knew John Ross had a lot of speed and likely the most out of the entire receiving group. When he lined up for the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, he proved it — and then some — after clocking a 4.22.
It was a time that broke Chris Johnson’s record at the combine.
Ross earned a lot of respect after that and gave teams a clear look at what he will bring. He finished last season with 81 catches, 1,150 yards and 17 touchdowns. If the Buffalo Bills are looking for a speedy guy that can replace Marquise Goodwin and add an option in the slot, Ross is a good target.
Let’s take a look at his frame:
Height: 5’11”
Weight:188 lbs.
Arm Length: 31 1/2”
Hands: 8 3/4”
Let’s take a look at his combine results:
40-Yard Dash: 4.22 seconds
Vertical Jump: 37.0 in.
Broad Jump:133.0 in.
If the Buffalo Bills end up trading down to receive more draft picks in other rounds, I can see John Ross being an option if Mike Williams and Corey Davis are off the board. Not to mention, he also started three games at cornerback while in college, totaling 2 pass breakups and one interception.
We know how much McDermott loves versatility.
Here’s what NFL.com’s draft profile says his strengths are:
"Has home-run gear to yank the top off of defenses. Vertical speed demands respect and creates open throws underneath. Corners open hips early to turn and sprint, leaving his curl and dig routes unchallenged. Feet are fire. On verticals from the slot, sells the corner route and stems to the post with a burst for easy separation and a comfortable throwing window for the quarterback. Hands are generally solid. Plus hand-eye coordination. Natural ball-tracker who locates the deep ball early and watches it. Dangerous show-and-go open-field ability after the catch. Able to win with slants or fades near the goal line. Eludes the first tackler and can turn a short one into a long one in a heartbeat. Has enough size to work from outside or from the slot. Saw four of his eight carries go for 15-plus yards. Has returned at least one kickoff for a touchdown in each of his three years at Washington."
Let’s move on to someone I just mentioned — Corey Davis.