3 receivers the Detroit Lions need to target in round 3
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Lions should target Justyn Ross with pick no. 66 in the NFL Draft.
Justyn Ross is a 6-foot-4 outside receiver and would pair exceptionally well opposite George Pickens with Amon-Ra St. Brown working the slot and T.J. Hockenson working the seam. And let’s not forget about Quintez Cephus.
Cephus can work inside or out; if Ross cannot unseat Cephus in three-wide sets, Cephus can slide outside with St. Brown inside and in four-wide sets can slide inside with Pickens and Ross working the perimeter.
Talk about overhauling the receiver room, my goodness.
That footwork tho 👀@ClemsonFB strikes first as D.J. Uiagalelei finds Justyn Ross for the TD 🚀 pic.twitter.com/Nc222tX5nf
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) September 25, 2021
Ross as a freshman, burst onto the scene, making 46 receptions totaling 1,000 yards and nine scores with Trevor Lawrence delivering the football. That’s a whopping 21.7 yards per catch. Since that rookie season, Ross’ production has fallen some, but there is plenty of size and overall talent to be excited about when examining the 22-year old Clemson product.
Ross corralled 66 balls totaling 865 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore. Following that, Ross missed the entire 2020 season after undergoing spinal surgery. Ross returned in 2021, appearing in ten games, making 46 grabs totaling 514 yards and just three scores.
At one time, Ross was considered to be a sure-bet first-round pick but suffered from inadequate quarterback play this past season. The program that Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence had once led has struggled to find the next top quarterback, and it showed with D.J. Uiagalelei struggling mightily. The Tigers’ signal-caller totaled just 2,246 yards throwing for nine touchdowns and ten interceptions while completing just a touch over 55% of his passes.
Ross, a redshirt junior, has a massive catch radius and sure hands; having only dropped one pass last season may slide to the third round with the 2022 NFL Draft having so many talented pass-catchers.
He’s not considered a ‘burner,’ but as the third receiver, Ross will provide the Detroit Lions with a towering outside red zone threat who also can make plays down the field against single coverage.