Clemson football: Justyn Ross signs with the Kansas City Chiefs

Clemson football only had two players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, but post-draft multiple players signed free agent contracts.

Justyn Ross – Wide Receiver, 2018-21

Signed by: Kansas City Chiefs

Quick take: Ross’s voyage to this draft has been a long & difficult one, and his selection was going to be one of the most joyous moments of the event for Clemson fans. We had a good feeling he wouldn’t go on Day One the way we assumed he would back in early 2020 before we found out about his congenital fusion diagnosis, but we thought someone would make the selection before long. Ross’s playmaking ability made him elite in 2018 and 2019. That wasn’t on display as much in 2021, due in part to inefficiencies with Clemson’s offense, but also due to a bout with COVID-19 and a foot injury unrelated to the congenital fusion condition.

As Clemson fans, we know how special Ross is and can still be in the NFL. Franchise owners and executives have to balance what they saw on film before Ross’s diagnosis with the risk that he may never be the same again. They elected to be cautious. I think it is likely that the majority of teams probably took Ross off their draft boards entirely.

Contrary to popular belief, there were teams that didn’t take him off their list completely.

Most people are familiar with the big Chiefs news of the offseason, with Tyreke Hill being traded to the Miami Dolphins. The cupboard isn’t bare at wide receiver for the Chiefs. They currently have Juju Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman and Josh Gordon on the roster. They also have former Clemson receiver Cornell Powell. Go beyond that and you see the best tight end in the league in Travis Kelce and a talented pass-catching running back in Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and it becomes clear that there are several pass catchers already on the roster. Not to mention the Chiefs drafted Skyy Moore from Western Michigan in the 2nd round on Saturday.

I say all this to be objective – it will not be easy for Ross to make the roster in Kansas City. I don’t think he cares about the challenges. Like he said on Twitter, he just wanted an opportunity.

He will have to go to Kansas City and compete, and he might have to accept a spot on the practice squad to start his career, but he is going to a team that is going to be finding a new identity at wide receiver and has a franchise quarterback throwing him the ball. In Justyn Ross’s position, the chance probably doesn’t get any better than that.

Clemson highlights:

• 158 receptions
• 2,379 receiving yards
• 20 touchdowns

Draft Projections:

• ESPN Jordan Reid: 4th Round
• CBS Ryan Wilson: 4th Round
• CBS Josh Edwards: 3rd Round
• Sporting News: 4th Round
• Walterfootball.com: 3rd Round
• Drafttek: 3rd Round

Dabo’s take:

"“He’s an elite talent, he’s an explosive leaper, unbelievable body control and ball skills,” Swinney said. “He’s incredibly explosive in and out of his cuts, great change of direction, lateral movement. He’s fast and a great finisher on the ball, so there’s a lot of good to talk about Justyn Ross as a football player.”"