Niner Noise
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49ers 2018 draft plans: Quality of players selected ninth overall in the NFL Draft

By Chris Wilson

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after tackling Michael Burton #46 of the Chicago Bears for no gain on third down in the first quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 31: Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after tackling Michael Burton #46 of the Chicago Bears for no gain on third down in the first quarter of the game on December 31, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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49ers Draft - John Ross
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 27: (L-R) John Ross of Washington poses with Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell after being picked #9 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

WR John Ross, 2017

In 2017, The Cincinnati Bengals chose the third wide receiver off the board when they selected speedster John Ross. Ross entered the early first-round conversation when he broke the NFL Scouting Combine record with a 4.22 second 40-yard dash:

After producing little in his first two years at the University of Washington, and then missing the following year due to injury, Ross had a monster 2016 season, amassing 18 total touchdowns and 1,250 combined yards on 90 total touches.

Along with his injury concerns, Ross was undersized at 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds, which was evident during his shortened rookie season with the Bengals. After recovering from shoulder surgery, Ross injured his knee in the preseason, and then was placed on injured reserve after injuring his opposite shoulder a few games into the season.

When Ross was available to play, he didn’t play well, and was benched after fumbling his lone touch of the year. Ross finished his lost rookie season with no catches in three games played.