This series was created a number of years ago in response to questions about why certain well-known prospects went unselected in NFL drafts. For these articles, I reach out to sources with NFL teams to find out why their organizations passed on drafting a given player, and/or, what were the reasons for other teams to pass on that prospect. The positive response to “Why Undrafted” and questions from readers about why prospects were drafted lower than the media expectations led us to create the parallel series “Why the Slide?”
Both series are back this year. Feel free to email me requests for Why the Slide? and Why Undrafted? at [email protected]. I can’t promise to get to all of them, but I will do my best and definitely will respond to the email.
Over the past two seasons when watching Pittsburgh, Ford could not be ignored as he was all over the field. He played with reckless abandon, physicality, and serious tenacity. With his skill set and omnipresence, Ford was a difference-maker for the Panthers.
Ford broke out in 2019, leading Pittsburgh in tackles – 97 = while also showing impressive ball production by notching three interceptions and 11 passes broken up. He then was played well for the Panthers in 2020, totaling 41 tackles, three interceptions and three passes defended over seven games before ending by his season early deciding to sit out the final four games. Throughout the leadup the 2021 NFL Draft, Ford fell under the radar, but it was surprising that he went undrafted.
A few days before the 2021 NFL Draft, WalterFootball.com reported that multiple teams had dropped Ford from their draft boards. Ford carried huge character concerns, and teams were very turned off by his off-the-field associations and worried about him getting into legal trouble in the future. The massive off-the-field issues had Ford go undrafted even though teams felt his play and tape was that of an early-rounder, so the concerns were serious and widespread throughout the league.
Ford signed with the Los Angeles Rams after falling undrafted, which was a great landing spot for him. During his coaching career defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has done an excellent job of working with troubled players and helping them to avoid problems in the NFL. Going far away from Pennsylvania could help Ford as well. Morris also has given opportunities to late-round or undrafted players, so Ford going undrafted won’t prevent him from seeing the field if he earns playing time. Los Angeles also needs some safety talent to emerge after losing John Johnson in free agency. The Rams have some young talent in Jordan Fuller, Taylor App, Terrell Burgess and Juju Hughes, but Ford should have the opportunity to compete immediately. Ford has early-round talent, so if cleans up his off-the-field life he could turn into an undrafted steal for the Rams.
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