Why did undrafted NFL rookie Justyn Ross pick Kansas City Chiefs? Here’s what he said

Clemson receiver Justyn Ross could’ve picked any of the NFL’s 32 teams after going undrafted.

He chose the Kansas City Chiefs, explaining what went into that decision before the second day of rookie minicamp Sunday.

“Just having Pat Mahomes, great quarterback, Andy Reid, great coach,” Ross said. “The receiver room, it feels like a family here. I’ve only been here for like a day, but they treat me like family.”

Another draw? Ross said he liked what he’d previously seen from Sammy Watkins when he played in Reid’s offense from 2018-20.

“I’ve seen players like me — kind of like Sammy — just come in here and excel in this offense,” Ross said. “So I feel pretty good about it.”

Ross has drawn buzz as one of the league’s most fascinating undrafted free agents after flashing huge potential at Clemson before injuries marred his draft stock.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Ross combined for 12 catches and 301 yards in the 2018-19 College Football Playoff. Two years ago, though, he had surgery to address a congenital fusion in his spine.

After sitting out a year, his production at Clemson fell this past season, partly because he played most of the season through a stress fracture in his foot. That ailment also kept him from fully testing after the season ended.

“It was frustrating, but I didn’t really have stuff easy for me,” Ross said. “So I had to push through a lot of stuff.”

Some draft experts still believed he would get selected. Pro Football Focus, for example, had him as the 140th-best draft-eligible player, while ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranked him 136th on his final big board.

Though Ross said he hoped to get drafted, he also admitted Sunday that he “knew it was a possibility, this outcome right here.”

“Of course I’m ready to prove everybody wrong,” Ross said, “but I mean, I’m just trying to feel my spot and play my part on the team, just see what I can do.”

Last week, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said his expectation for Ross — if fully healthy — was to “have a shot” at making the team’s 53-man roster. Veach said the Chiefs medical staff had cleared Ross medically to participate.

There still will be plenty of competition at wideout. Veach said he envisioned KC would keep five to six receivers, with that room already boasting veterans like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman, Josh Gordon, Corey Coleman and Daurice Fountain, along with second-round pick Skyy Moore.

Last season, Ross led Clemson in receptions (46) and receiving yards (514). He said he modeled his game after Los Angeles Chargers five-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen, while priding himself on also being a taller player who can move well and run precise routes.

For now, though, Ross said his aspirations included making an impression with KC’s coaches while proving he’s entirely past his previous injuries.

“Just get my foot in the door,” Ross said, “and try to make plays.”