While this is still free agency season, teams are working out angles for the draft. One surprising name that keeps coming up lately is Perez Ford of Norther Illinois, who has been in contact with the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Kansas Chiefs, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears & Washington Redskins.
Ford is an outside linebacker/defensive end who racked up 14.5 sacks during his four years with the Huskies, although he didn’t play as a defensive lineman all of the time, taking a bit of time to establish his position there as an edge pass rusher. He also had 29.5 tackles for a loss during his time there and four forced fumbles, playing in a total of 37 games.
Ford isn’t a first round talent, especially in another class filled with first round talent for pass-rushers who will go early. But teams can’t all take sack machines out of the top colleges in the first 32 picks, so seeing where things stand with someone like Ford, who could be something of a value pick or even steal a bit later on, is important at this stage, even if the free agency craze isn’t over yet.