ESPN analyst predicts Justyn Ross to make Kansas City Chiefs 53-man roster

Former Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross went from undrafted to quickly being picked by the Kansas City Chiefs. Two years ago, Ross was a consensus first-round NFL Draft pick. His fall from grace isn’t his fault, as his Tiger career was cut short and stifled due to multiple serious injuries that saw his numbers decline each season he played, yet is still expected to make the final roster, according to one ESPN analyst.

“Wide receiver Justyn Ross will make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster. He surprisingly went undrafted, but not for a lack of talent, as teams seemed to be concerned about his medicals,” ESPN fantasy football writer Mike Clay wrote. “Prior to his neck/spine surgery in 2020, Ross posted 46-1,000-9 and 66-865-8 receiving lines and was one of the top receivers in the nation. In fact, his career 3.0 yards per route run was best in this year’s rookie class. Ross now finds himself in an elite offense but also one in need of help at wideout. The Clemson product has a real shot to make the cut.”

Before last season, the former Clemson star entered the year as the No. 5 wide receiver prospect in the ACC, according to Pro Football Focus. During the football season, CBS Sports projected him to go as high as No. 32 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While Ross’ draft dreams didn’t go the way he had always planned, he’s keeping his head down now and focusing on making the main Chiefs roster with the hopes of becoming an immediate asset to franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has said that “as long as he stays healthy,” then Ross will have a shot at a starting spot come Week 1 of his rookie year. That is a long ways off, though, and Ross is focused on spring camp and earning his spot on the team, let alone the starting rotation.

“It felt good,” Ross said about being on the field with the Chiefs. “With what I had going on, you never knew if I was going to be able to be out here at all — period. So it felt real good.”

After undergoing surgery and spending months rehabbing during 2020, Ross was eventually cleared to return to the field for last season, but suffered a broken foot in the preseason and never found the same production he had as a freshman and sophomore. Now, however, he’s feeling better than ever just in time for his first NFL season.

Last season, Ross had 46 catches for 514 yards, catching three touchdowns before suffering his foot injury, while his freshman season in 2018 saw him haul in the same amount of catches, that time for 1,000 yards (21.7 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns.

“It was frustrating, but I haven’t had stuff easy for me. I’ve had to push through a lot of stuff, so it wasn’t really too bad,” Ross said. “My freshman year I didn’t have no problems … With coming into this past season with Clemson, it was pretty difficult. But I feel like this go-around I’m going to be healthy, so I feel good.”