Former first-round wide receiver John Ross signs deal with Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles announced a new free agency signing on Thursday – former first-round pick John Ross. The veteran wide receiver is gearing up for his eighth year in the league, this time with the Eagles.

The Chiefs acquired Ross at the beginning of 2023 after he signed a future rights deal with the franchise. This was after the 27-year-old veteran sat out the entire 2022 season while on the New York Giants roster. Despite joining the Chiefs, Ross didn’t record a stat for the Super Bowl champs last season.

Ross was originally the first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Bengals selected him with the No. 9 overall pick after he put together an all-American season in 2016 with the Washington Huskies. While with the Bengals, he played in 27 games for the Bengals before the team opted to move on.

Ross joined the Giants in 2021, recording his last regular-season stats with them that season. He posted 11 receptions in 10 games played with 224 yards and one touchdown. The speedy wide receiver has 62 career catches for 957 yards and 11 touchdowns. Against his new team, Ross has posted two catches for 28 yards – both catches coming in games with the Giants.

The former Huskies star joins a wide receiver room with A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith and Parris Campbell. Philadelphia also drafted wide receivers Ainias Smith out of Texas A&M and Johnny Wilson out of Florida State.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially ran out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams could enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marked the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marked the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hit. Following the restricted free agent deadline followed the 2024 NFL Draft, which ran from April 25-27.