John Ross was a starting Wide Receiver for the Washington Huskies, that went all the way to the College Football Playoffs this past season. They were the PAC-12 Champions, and finished with a 12-2 record after losing to Alabama in the playoffs. Ross was one of the most prolific wide receivers in college football during his time at Washington, where he amassed 1150 yards on 81 receptions, and 17 touchdowns during his final year. The speedster receiver is projected to be drafted in the first round, and with the Ravens in need of another Receiver, Ross could end up in Baltimore.
Strengths
John Ross is one of the fastest prospects ever seen. His 4.22 second 40 yard dash broke the record at the NFL Combine, previously held by Chris Johnson at 4.24 seconds. His speed will allow him to escape down the field for deep passes with ease, something that strong armed quarterback Joe Flacco would appreciate. His route running ability is great, and coupled with his speed he is able to easily track the ball down the field for the catch. Ross also has solid catching abilities, as he rarely drops passes thrown towards him. He is an electric kick returner as well, and can fill a need for the Ravens at that position as well. His playing style and abilities are very reminiscent of Mike Wallace, and he could evolve to become a player like him.
Weaknesses
Ross, at 5’11” 188 pounds is somewhat undersized. He will have to play well to overcome this issue, but it should not be a major concern for the Ravens who may be looking to draft him, considering Steve Smith Sr. was 5’9″ 195 pounds while playing for the Ravens. Ross also occasionally stumbles after a catch in his attempt to zoom away from defenders. He also has had major injuries to both knees, including ACL tears.
His Fit on the Ravens
The Ravens need an upgrade at the Wide Receiver position. With just Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman to be definite starters next season, the Ravens will need a third receiver to come in and bring the offense to another level. John Ross would defiantly do that. His speed is elite and his play in college at Washington was outstanding. He could play any spot at wide receiver, but slot may be the best for him considering the Ravens have other, larger targets to play the outside. The Ravens are already set to meet John Ross this offseason, which shows they are definitely interested in him.
Rating
Overall, I give John Ross a 4.6/5.0 prospect rating. He is an elite speedster wide receiver, who can make much needed, and clutch catches. He was dominant in his last year at Washington, and helped lead the team to the College Football Playoffs. He would bring a new level of intensity to the Ravens, and would help to ensure that the offense will get back on track next season. If Baltimore drafts him, expect him to get a lot of targets from Joe Flacco next season, as he could turn into a big time receiver at the next level.
