Why the Buccaneers should add wide receiver John Ross
By Rob Leeds
The injuries are a dark spot on Ross’ young career. Those are impossible for any team to fix, but the upside as a player is clear.
In 2018, Ross’ first healthy season, the Bengal receiver hauled in seven touchdowns on 21 receptions to go along with 210 receiving yards. Ross showed consistency in the red zone and could still flash the blazing speed that got him drafted so high.
2019 also showed some upside to go along with some question marks. Ross experienced an improved catch rate (50%) and posted 506 receiving yards on 28 receptions (18.1 yards per reception) to go with three touchdowns.
After the 2019 season, it looked like Ross was finally going to emerge as the player he was expected to become, but the chemistry isn’t there but Burrow.
Between 2018 and 2019, it is clear that Ross still has some upside that hasn’t been tapped into yet. A team like the Buccaneers with Tom Brady at quarterback could be the perfect fit for Ross to improve his game with less pressure than he experienced in Cincinnati.
There is still growing that needs to occur before Ross is a consistent player, but pretending that he is unable to play at a high level ignores the potential he was drafted on, and the production posted when playing.