The Cleveland Browns should have signed Justyn Ross despite his injury issues

The Cleveland Browns missed out on signing a potential star in Justyn Ross.

Justyn Ross was at one time the best receiver prospect in all of college football before a spinal issue sidelined him for over a year. He returned to Clemson in 2021, after missing all of 2020, and had a modest season, posting 514 yards and three touchdowns. Part of that had to do with Clemson not having their start quarterback, Trevor Lawerence, anymore. Yet, when Lawerence was there, he and Ross combined for over 1,800 yards and 17 touchdowns in just two seasons.

While he did run a 4.63 40-time, many point out that he was dealing with a foot injury around that time, making it a less than accurate representation of him as a player.

The spinal issue appears to be a thing of the past, but teams were still wary about him. It’s why despite his talent, he went undrafted. The issue had been there since birth doctors believe and he underwent a successful spinal fusion to shore up the issue. According to Ian Rappaport, Ross had a “congenital fusion of his upper cervical spine and then a surgical fusion at a level below”.

He was then cleared to play in 2021 for the Clemson Tigers and was used in a different role to help their new quarterback find his rhythm. While there was a risk, the fact he played an entire season after the surgery should have relieved that.

He’s all upside, especially as an undrafted free agent. If he doesn’t pan out, so what? If he does, you just got the steal of a lifetime. That’s what the Kansas City Chiefs thought. They took a run at the receiver and brought him in on a deal as an undrafted free agent and now Ross has the chance he’s been wanting.

So why the Cleveland Browns weren’t all in on him is a bit baffling

Even after the draft, the Browns receiver room isn’t any better looking. The team currently has a few good options but good is the best they are. Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and David Bell are now the top three on the team, and that’s not an impressive group.

There are a lot of people relying on the ever inconsistent idea of “potential” for guys like Peoples-Jones and Bell. That’s not a winning formula. The team needs more depth and more talent around them. Otherwise, this is going to get ugly.

Ross could’ve given them another option and would have at least shown us that they know they don’t have enough in the room as it is. Right now it seems as though the Browns are content with starting Peoples-Jones across from Cooper. That’s problematic, to say the least.

Ross may never find his old form but he may and if he does, the Browns are going to look foolish for not being able to snag him.