At the NFL Combine in 2017, there have been a lot of impressive and disappointing results when it comes to both superstars and underdogs trying to work their way into a better spot in the 2017 NFL Draft. One of the big moments of the combine came when Washington Huskies wide receiver John Ross ran the 40-yard dash, which both impressed NFL scouts and caused some areas of concern in regards to his durability.
John Ross NFL Combine performance
John Ross ran a 4.22-second 40-yard dash, which broke the record previously held by Chris Johnson, who ran a 4.24 at the NFL Combine in 2008.
Johnson was a running back and a track star in college and the Tennessee Titans selected him with the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. As a second-year NFL running back, Johnson ran for 2,006 yards, one of only seven players to eclipse 2,000 yards in a season. Ross actually said he was going to run faster than 4.3 but nobody thought he would actually break Johnson's record.
John Ross cramps up causing concerns about knee
The record-breaking 40-yard dash should help his 2017 NFL Draft projections, but there is still a hill that he has to climb. Chris Johnson was a high NFL Draft pick because he came in healthy. John Ross, on the other hand, missed the entire 2015 season at Washington after tearing his ACL and he is set to undergo shoulder surgery in March.
The fast 40-time is proof that he has moved on from his ACL injury two years ago, but two injuries requiring surgery in just over two years is concerning. It also doesn't help that he only ran once because he cramped up after breaking the record. Ross came into the NFL Combine as a projected first round pick depending on his knees and now those knees are coming into question.
The future of John Ross in the NFL
The record-setting run at the NFL Combine may ensure a first round pick at the 2017 NFL Draft, but there are chances he slips because of injury concerns. However, even if he slips beyond the first round, the record helped him financially. John Ross was wearing Nike shoes when he broke Chris Johnson's 40-yard dash record and Nike signed him to a new endorsement deal shortly after the record breaking run was made public.
