New Orleans Saints hosted former 1st-round pick on workout before Week 1

Chris Roling

New Orleans Saints hosted former 1st-round pick on workout before Week 1 image

The New Orleans Saints brought on an interesting name for a workout in the week leading up to the season opener against the Carolina Panthers. 

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Saints hosted a receivers group highlighted by former first-round pick John Ross. 

Ross is a little infamous these days as the former ninth overall pick in 2017 by the Cincinnati Bengals who retired in recent years, only to re-emerge with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023. While he hasn’t played in a regular season game since 2021 with the New York Giants, he just spent the summer with the Philadelphia Eagles, catching four passes and taking two kicks back for a total of 68 yards on special teams during the preseason. 

Giving Ross a look is a smooth move by the Saints. The team hopes for a second-year bump from A.T. Perry, a sixth-round pick who has emerged over the summer. Otherwise, it’s the Chris Olave show at wideout while the offense hinges on Derek Carr exceeding lukewarm expectations after a summer where his rookie backup received most of the hype

More important here, though, might be Ross’ ability on special teams as a weapon. That famous 4.22-second time in the 40-yard dash keeps him lethal there without the time investment that comes with learning a new offense. 

If nothing else, the Saints now have a player on speed dial who can fill out a depth chart if necessary as the season progresses.

 

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Chris Roling

Chris Roling Photo

Chris Roling has covered the NFL since 2010 with stints at Bleacher Report, USA TODAY Sports Media Group and others. Raised a Bengals fan in the '90s, the Andy Dalton era was smooth sailing by comparison. He graduated from the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University and remains in Athens.