One of several free-agent signings in the secondary, former Eagles safety Rudy Ford comes to Jacksonville looking for a new beginning. After being selected in the sixth round by Philadelphia back in 2017, he’s totaled just 34 tackles in 41 appearances over the last four seasons, with most of his impact coming on special teams.
At his press conference on Monday, Ford said that he’ll play on the special teams unit with the Jags, as well as wherever else the team needs him to play. In deciding to sign with Jacksonville, he said he wanted to be a part of what the franchise is building.
“I feel like just the culture, you want to change the culture around here and [I’m] just happy to be a part of something different,” he said. “I got a great feel [for the team], just the energy and the vibes here. I feel like everything is going on the up so that’s why it was really like a no-brainer for me.”
An added benefit to coming to the Jaguars is a reunion with his college teammate Daniel Thomas, who Jacksonville drafted last season. Ford said the two were close while playing together at Auburn.
“Daniel [Thomas] was like my little brother at Auburn,” he said. “He was a freshman, I was a senior, so just being able to reconnect is always great. He just got into the league this past year so it’s awesome. I’ve been in the league for a few more years than him. I was able to be around older guys, so I know how it is sometimes when you’re around just some familiar faces and things.”
With the addition of Rayshawn Jenkins, as well, Ford likely won’t see significant playing time at safety next season. But he could see a lot of special teams action in 2021, and he’s another depth piece in an area where the team had very little margin for error in 2020.