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Wide receivers the Redskins could consider trading for after Kelvin Harmon’s injury

By Jacob Camenker

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 24: Wide receiver Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers runs up field during the second half of a pre-season game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 24: Wide receiver Dante Pettis #18 of the San Francisco 49ers runs up field during the second half of a pre-season game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 22: John Ross #11 of the Cincinnati Bengals in action against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 22: John Ross #11 of the Cincinnati Bengals in action against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

4. John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals

When the Bengals made John Ross the ninth overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, they had high hopes for the speedy receiver. He was supposed to develop into a burner and emerge as a great complement to A.J. Green.

Unfortunately for Cincinnati, that never happened.

Ross played in just one game during his rookie season and recorded a single rush for 12 yards. That was it. From there, Tyler Boyd emerged as a solid No. 2 receiver for the Bengals and Ross continued to play third fiddle to him and Green when Green was healthy.

Ross did have some nice moments. He caught seven touchdown passes in 2018 while using his quickness to earn a role as a red-zone weapon. And in 2019, he had 28 catches for 506 yards despite playing in just eight games. However, a bulk of his production came in the first two games of the season, and late in the year, he had to share snaps with the likes of Alex Erickson and Auden Tate because of his inability to produce consistently after his injury.

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Because of Ross’ up-and-down play, the Bengals declined his fifth-year option. That’s a sign that they’re losing faith in the free-agent-to-be, and he’ll need to showcase that he has value to catch on somewhere else.

Doing that in Cincinnati won’t be easy. The Bengals slapped Green with the franchise tag and drafted Tee Higgins with the first pick in the second round. So, between Green, Boyd, Higgins, Erickson, and Tate, Ross is certainly on the roster bubble.

Washington should examine the possibility of adding Ross. He’s a player that they could get very cheaply in a trade and he could emerge as a speed demon as the Bengals were hoping when they drafted him. At the very least, he’d add another speed element to the Washington offense. At the worst, he would continue to struggle with inconsistent hands and injury issues. But the risk is worth the potential reward — at the right price, of course.

Dangling a late Day 3 pick to see if the Bengals would be willing to part with Ross may not be a bad move. The 25-year-old still has a lot of upside and when he’s at his best, he can be a game-breaker. Trading for a player on an expiring contract isn’t usually ideal for a non-contender, but Washington should at least consider pulling the trigger because of how thin they are at receiver.

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