John Ross trade request provides prime candidate for Eagles

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross is unhappy with his current role and his current team, which could soon become the Philadelphia Eagles’ gain.

After playing just one snap on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts and being a healthy scratch in the three previous games, Ross’ agent, Brad Cicala, approached the Bengals about trading the 25-year-old, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Garafolo noted that not much progress was made in that initial approach, but Ross is holding out hope that he will be dealt from Cincinnati before the NFL’s Nov. 3 trade deadline.

Ross has quickly become a non-factor in the Bengals’ offense under rookie quarterback Joe Burrow, who has three big targets already in Tyler Boyd, AJ Green, and Tee Higgins. In his three games this season, Ross has just seven targets with two receptions for 17 yards.

It’s a swift drop-off from his promising half-season in 2019 in which he posted 28 receptions for 506 yards and three touchdowns before a chest injury — which included a life-threatening setback in December — ended his season after eight games.

Last year’s average of 18.1 yards per catch is a big number to put on the outside of any offensive arsenal, which the Eagles certainly could use right now.

Instead of waiting for the returns of DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery — who have constantly kept the Eagles and their fans waiting due to injury issues — Ross could step in and become an immediate difference-maker as a dangerous outside target for Carson Wentz, who is certainly at a shortage of high-end skill players.

Considering Ross’ value is significantly lower than it has been in years past, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman wouldn’t have to give up much to get him. At most, it could be along the lines of a fifth or sixth-round draft pick.

With the NFC East wide-open despite its horrendous opening to the 2020 season, the Eagles are still very much in it with a 1-4-1 record through six weeks. Roseman is expected to be aggressive on the trade market to try and turn things around quickly in Philadelphia, and this could be a low-budget move that could yield high rewards.