The Green Bay Packers have had a productive offseason consisting of the signings of superstars and the release of team veterans. After a fast start, signing star running back Josh Jacobs, and rising star safety Xavier McKinney to over 100 million dollars worth in contracts, Green Bay is looking to fill out the roster with the NFL Draft and remaining free agents. With the NFL draft approaching, Green Bay has re-signed multiple team free agents, like running back AJ Dillon and star return man Keisan Nixon.
There is one team starter from the 2023-24 season who has yet to sign a contract, leaving the Packers more time to negotiate with the key contributor.
Green Bay Packers Starting Safety Rudy Ford Remains a Free Agent
Rudy Ford is a 6’0 200 lb safety who was a 6th-round draft to the Arizona Cardinals by way of the Auburn Tigers. In 2023 Ford stepped into the starting role for the Green Bay Packers defense for the first time in his NFL career. Rudy Ford was a key contributor to an up-and-down Packers defense, overall he was the most productive and consistent safety with a nearly 70 PFF grade for the season. Ford also found the ball two times for interceptions, the most on a team with limited ball production.
Rudy Ford was not a perfect player, at times in run support he seemed to flounder on opportunities to make plays on ball carriers. In coverage though Ford set himself apart from most of the other Packers. Out of the Safety position, Rudy Ford put together a clinic of a season when targeted by a quarterback.
Ford has started 21 games in his career, nine for the Packers.
Rudy Ford: 30.1 passer rating allowed in coverage this season
1st among Safeties 👑 pic.twitter.com/VJijzb7Fgm
— PFF GB Packers (@PFF_Packers) January 9, 2024
With the addition of Xavier McKinney, one of the best overall safeties in the NFL, The Green Bay Packers would benefit greatly with Rudy Ford taking a reduced role on the defensive side of the ball to keep him in opportunistic situations on the field.
The Green Bay Packers currently lack depth in the safety room, McKinney being the only of the players in the room to see any notable play time in the NFL.
Rudy Ford was an imperfect but productive member of the Green Bay Packers secondary, for the right price Green Bay should certainly consider adding him back to the roster for the 2024-25 season. Ford could be the perfect bridge guy to help a young safety from the NFL Draft come into Green Bay and compete for the spot.
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