I keep coming back to something, because I see in all these threads we are making assumptions about the approaching WR depth chart.

Toney
MVS
Moore
Rice

The above four are locks. I think we can agree that Justin Watson is not a lock but is close to one, as the Chiefs love the depth he offers and his special teams work as well.

The Chiefs will carry 6 WRs on the roster, maybe 7, and the talents left are:

• Richie James
• Ihmir Smith-Marsette (former 2021 5th round Viking pick, was on Chiefs PS, activated for the Week 18 game)
• Justyn Ross (2022 UDFA)
• Nikko Remigio (2023 UDFA)
• Ty Fryfogle (2022 Cowboys UDFA, cut in 2022 August, signed to futures contract in January)

And John Ross.

To remind all of you, Justin Ross is 27 years old, was drafted 9th overall by the Bengals in 2017. Prior to that, he set the Combine record for the 40 yard dash, running a 4.22, including an elite 1.49 10-yard split (only two receivers beat that split at the Combine this year, and -- oddly enough -- Rashee Rice actually tied that).

Ross went on to be a colossal bust, recording exactly one touch his rookie season, which he fumbled. He has battled injuries and a decent Bengals depth chart to record 62 receptions for 957 yards in his career so far, recording a completion on merely 43% of his targets. He's also recorded three fumbles, which means 5% of his touches, he's fumbling. He was a Giant for the 2021 season, and spent the 2022 season out of football until the Chiefs signed him in January.

This is a pretty grisly career, but I think he's got a chance to be a sleeper for the Chiefs roster, but only if the Chiefs choose to roster 7 WRs -- which they rarely do, especially when they have four TEs already that they really like.

Ross may be worth the 7th slot, however.

• Pacheco was our primary kick returner, but that doesn't seem viable anymore given that he is now the #1 RB.
• Andy Reid always loves having a speed demon gadget player on the roster:

  Dexter McCluster in 2013
  De'Anthony Thomas in 2014-2015
  Tyreek Hill, who became more than that, 2015-2021
  Mecole Hardman in 2019-2022
  Kadarious Toney in 2022

  There is simply no option on the roster who is a pure fit for that Z receiver gadget speedster role that Andy Reid covets. Toney is a #1 WR this year, MVS is a deep threat, not a twitchy gadget, Skyy Moore doesn't have that kind of speed, and Jerrion Ealy is an unknown.

Now, I don't think John Ross can replicate even what Mecole Hardman did.

But ask yourself: can he replicate what De'Anthony Thomas did? I think the answer to that is yes.

I think he's a wild gamble, and as such I wouldn't take him over Richie James for the #6 spot. But hey, if the Chiefs elect to roster a 7th WR, he's got an advantage over the other WRs in that there is a clear need that, in theory, he alone can fill at this time.
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