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After making their move for Deshaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns are a bit light in the draft pick department for the 2022 NFL Draft. Needing to hit on their remaining selections, they head into Thursday’s draft with clear holes in their roster that need fixing, something that Justyn Ross can help fix.
Even after grabbing Amari Cooper from the Dallas Cowboys, their receiving core is still devoid of depth and talent, making them a likely landing spot for a mid-round WR, just like Ross. The Clemson product is one of the more forgotten-about options in this class, as he is not one of the big names, but he certainly brings an established pedigree to whichever team selects him.
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Justyn Ross Is Best Browns Fit In 2022 NFL Draft
3. Great fit alongside Cooper
During his time in college, Ross had his fair share of QB talent throwing his way but often had to contend with other NFL-ready options. With the Tigers being one of those teams that just churn out prospects ready for the next level after recruiting high-profile options, Ross certainly is used to needing to find a way to stand out.
Watson is tall (6’4) and while concerns surrounding his spinal fusion surgery helped push him down draft boards, he certainly can be a nice addition for the Browns and their WR ranks. His skill set would help complement Cooper and give Watson two taller targets in the passing game, helping open up underneath routes and re-establish a strong play-action style for Kevin Stefanski.
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2. Doesn’t require high draft capital to add
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Not picking until 44th overall can box teams into a corner as they try too hard to focus on too many different areas of improvement for themselves. For Cleveland, Ross likely would not be worth anything more than their lone 4th round selection (#118), allowing them to utilize their three previous selections (44, 78, 99) on more pressing team needs.
If Ross was not coming off an injury and had produced a solid season like his sophomore campaign, he would likely be in the range of where Christian Watson, Skyy Moore, and Jahan Dotson are mocked to be drafted. A winning pedigree cannot be overvalued in a draft, so the Browns would be big-time beneficiaries if they move ahead and select Ross.
1. Can handle a heavy target workload from Watson
This element may not necessarily be provable right out of the gate, seeing as how most mid-round rookies are tasked with many different responsibilities at once when entering the league. For Ross, he will likely be tasked with a role on special teams as well as offense, which would be a change of pace for him but would be necessary if he wants to make an NFL roster.
The Browns seem determined to stick to the type of play-action scheme that made them successful ever since Stefanski was hired, and by feeding Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt on a frequent basis, that naturally helps open up passing avenues downfield and makes the defenses bite on play fakes.
Ross certainly did disappoint at Clemson’s pro day (results include a 4.63-second 40-yard dash) after having only participated in the bench press at the NFL Combine. Having had his value driven down considerably after having such a high ceiling after his sophomore campaign, the Browns should look to Ross to help make up for the loss of Jarvis Landry, and even if Landry does return, Ross still can have a role in 4-man sets and push Donovan Peoples-Jones for snaps.
