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Heading into the 2022 season, there were many wondering what the Kansas City Chiefs’ passing game would look like after trading away Tyreek Hill.
They ended up winning a Super Bowl with a receiving corps that featured Juju Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Now they’ve lost Juju as well and that has opened up an opportunity for a number of their options to establish themselves as the WR1.
Kadarius Toney is a former 1st round pick. They drafted Skyy Moore in the 2nd round last season.
However, it may be another young option that could be the one to watch next season.
According to USA Today’s Charles Goldman, Patrick Mahomes was hyping up Justyn Ross while speaking to the media yesterday.
#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes keeps the hype train rolling for WR Justyn Ross https://t.co/o7stMTVE84 via @thechiefswire
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) April 17, 2023
“Yeah, I mean, the talent is through the roof,” Mahomes said. “I think anyone can see that. He’s getting better and better. Even though he wasn’t active all year he was in the building and he was able to see the guys and how we do things. Listening and being in the meetings and some of the stuff like that. I’m excited for him, man. To be able to get out there and get the reps in practice, get the little fine details that we like to do in this offense.”
Early on in his career at Clemson, Justyn Ross looked poised to be an absolute star. He had 1000 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns as a freshman for the Tigers and followed it up with 66 catches for 865 yards and 8 touchdowns in his sophomore season.
Then a neck surgery cost him the entirety of his junior season. He was able to return for 10 games during his senior season and showed flashes of the talent he had displayed his first two season.
The Chiefs decided to take a chance on him after he went undrafted, but he spent his rookie year on IR.
There are still some who believe Ross can be dangerous option in the NFL if he can stay healthy and it certainly wouldn’t hurt that he’ll have Mahomes throwing him the ball to start his career.
Patrick Mahomes is going to need to find receivers he can trust besides Travis Kelce and Valdes-Scantling. Maybe Ross can be one of those receivers.