John Ross has resumed his participation in the National Football League. On Thursday, the Philadelphia Eagles disclosed that the former first-round wide receiver had executed an agreement. The financial details were not disclosed at the time. Ross’ participation in the Eagles’ rookie minicamp as a tryout player preceded this signing.
Ross hasn’t seen action in an NFL game since 2021 and has chosen to retire in 2023. However, he took part in the Eagles’ rookie minicamp earlier this month on a trial and performed well enough to secure another NFL contract.
At the start of 2023, the Chiefs brought Ross on board after he secured a future rights deal with the team. This followed a year-long break in 2022 when the 27-year-old veteran was on the New Giants’ roster but did not play. Unfortunately, even after joining the Chiefs, Ross did not contribute any statistics for the Super Bowl champions last season.
Ross’s career has seen many unexpected turns, and here’s another: after an outstanding season at Washington, where he amassed over 1,100 receiving yards and led the Pac-12 with 19 touchdowns, the Cincinnati Bengals selected him 9th overall in the 2017 draft. Some within the Eagles organization even viewed him as the best receiver available, but by the time they could pick at No. 14, he was already taken. Instead, they selected defensive end Derek Barnett.
Ross, who once set a then-unmatched 4.22-second time in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, faced injuries during his professional career, restricting himself to an average of seven games per season in his first four years His most productive season was in 2019, where he managed to catch 28 passes for 506 yards over 11 games.
He became a member of the New York Giants in 2021, recording 11 receptions for 224 yards across 10 games. In January 2023, he secured a futures contract with the Kansas City Chiefs but announced his retirement later that same year.
Ross has an opportunity to finish his redemption story in Philadelphia. The Eagles boast a top-tier receiving duo with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but there’s uncertainty beyond that pair. Earlier this week, DeVante Parker, one of the contenders for the third receiver spot, announced his retirement.
Ross will contend with Parris Campbell, newcomer Ainias Smith, and others for a roster position and playing time during this offseason.
If there’s one place for John Ross to bring his NFL career back to life, it might be here in Philadelphia.
Outstanding wide receivers DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown, star running back Saquon Bark, and Pro Bowl-caliber tight end Dallas Goedert support Jalen Hurts as the Eagles’ MVP-level quarterback.
Incorporating Nick Sirianni’s offensive expertise, this scenario appears to be the perfect chance for John Ross to demonstrate his capability to perform at the NFL level. With an abundance of speed and talent around him, Ross could potentially become a key player in the offense.
The 2024 season of the National Football League commenced at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 13. At present, the athletes are free agents, as their contracts that were applicable until 2023 have just expired. Teams had a window from 4 p.m. ET on Feb. 20 until March 5 to assign one or transition tag players before free agency began. Teams were permitted to negotiate with players who were scheduled to become unrestricted free agents beginning on March 13.
The start of the New Year not only welcomed NFL free agency but also initiated the league office’s acknowledgment of all trades. April 19 was the deadline for signing restricted free agents to offer sheets, followed by April 24, when teams faced the cutoff to match these offer sheets. The 2024 NFL Draft then commenced from April 25 to 27.
