The Cincinnati Bengals are potentially looking to add to their already loaded wide receiver corps in this year’s draft. Despite re-signing Brandon LaFell earlier this offseason and drafting a pair of promising young receivers in Tyler Boyd and Cody Core last year, the Bengals aspire to add even more talent. One way to do that is to bring in combine superstar, John Ross, who broke the all-time record for the 40-yard dash with a 4.22 second time. Unfortunately, some teams are worried that the health of his knees, which have both sustained major injuries, could hinder his potential in the NFL. But, the Bengals recently decided that his health issues are no longer a concern, according to Tony Pauline of draftanalyst.com, making it much more likely the Bengals will consider taking him at No. 9 overall:
One team that I'm told has given Ross a clean bill of health is the Cincinnati Bengals, and the receiver is in the conversation for the ninth pick of the draft.
His knees were given the green light by their doctors, and the front office believes the addition of Ross to an offense that presently boasts A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and Tyler Eifert as well as recently re-signed Brandon LaFell could make them unstoppable on that side of the ball. And now that Joe Mixon has settled his civil trial, the team wou
In addition to the Bengals signing off on any health issues that may have been problematic to his chances of being drafted so high, Ross has expressed his admiration for Marvin Lewis and desire to play for the Bengals.
"Honestly, he gives me coach Petersen vibes. The way they build a brotherhood in their locker rooms, and the way everyone's treated with respect, it sounded familiar," Ross told Chase Goodbread of NFL.com. "He's got an open-door policy just like coach Petersen. Anyone can come to him. He talked about playing fast.”
That sense of brotherhood caught Ross’ attention, but meeting with Lewis in person seems to be the true catalyst for Ross coming to the conclusion that Cincinnati is where he would like to spend his professional career.
"I would love to play for him," Ross said of Lewis and the Bengals. "I liked all the coaches I met through this process, but I had a longer talk with coach Lewis than probably anyone else, just getting a feel for the way he goes about things."
Despite some criticisms for his play strength, route-running, and overall technique, coaches and scouts alike have been intrigued enough by Ross’ speed, hands, ball tracking ability, and size to look past everything and consider him one of the top overall prospects in this year’s draft. It is simply his health that has held some teams back from considering him worthy of a top-10 selection. But, the Bengals are in control a top-10 selection and just signed-off on that particular issue. Don’t be shocked if the Bengals pick him up with the No. 9 overall pick.