Lessons learned from KC Chiefs rookie mini-camp

The Justyn Ross hype can’t be tamed

At this point, it feels like any level of reasonability or attempts at a nuanced perspective have been lost. For now, that’s okay.

When the Chiefs added Justyn Ross after the completion of the 2022 draft, it was predictable that folks would connect the dots and applaud the Chiefs for taking such a chance on a player with a recent history of showing off exceptional skills in big games. After all, Ross was someone who was pegged as a future first-round pick before injuries to his spine and foot wrecked his pro stock and took him off draft boards completely.

However, what has emerged in the days following the draft is a fervor and excitement over the possibilities of Ross with Patrick Mahomes and this Chiefs offense that is not even remotely tethered to reality. Even during a weekend in which Ross looked like a raw product with some significant ground to make up, some members of Chiefs Kingdom (or even appreciators of great offense) seem starry-eyed about the possibilities and speak about Ross and the Chiefs in such glowing terms that real additions like Skyy Moore are being overshadowed.

It feels like a futile exercise at this stage to try to remind people that 32 teams passed over Ross a half-dozen times or more apiece just a week ago. The hype is overwhelming and, at this point, fans are going to believe what they want. Expect Ross to be a significant draw for fans who want to visit training camp in St. Joseph if he remains on the Chiefs roster for that long.