Tag: Paris Ford

Aaron Donald has heard ‘a lot of good things’ about Rams rookie Paris Ford

From what Aaron Donald has heard, undrafted rookie Paris Ford has impressed the Rams already.

Aaron Donald has split time between Los Angeles and Pittsburgh this offseason, as he does every year. He still trains daily and puts in more work than probably any other NFL player, but he doesn’t attend every practice and session the Rams hold before training camp.

However, while he’s been in Pittsburgh, he’s heard good things about Rams rookie Paris Ford, who L.A. signed as an undrafted free agent this year. Donald is willing to help the young safety any way he can, whether it’s on the field or with the playbook, hoping he makes the 53-man roster.

“I’ve been hearing a lot of good things. I wasn’t there, but I’ve been hearing a lot of good things as far as how he’s been doing,” Donald said of Ford, via John McGonigal of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “But once you put some pads on, he’s got to do a lot more and make a name for himself. But anything I can do to help him, I’m there. He just has to come up and talk to me. If it’s the playbook or something else I can do, I’m for sure going to be there to help him. I hope he makes the team. And I know at the end of the day the type of football player he is. He can help us.”

Ford has the ability to play both safety and corner, putting together a strong career at Pitt. He racked up 136 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and six interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. He also broke up 10 passes and forced three fumbles, with nine of those PBUs coming in 2019.

The Rams could use depth in the secondary following the departures of Troy Hill and John Johnson, and although it’s unlikely Ford will play a major role as a rookie if he makes the team, he could be active on game days if injuries occur to other players.

Having Donald in his corner as a mentor certainly helps, but as Aaron said: It will come down to training camp when the pads go on. That will be Ford’s real opportunity to step up and showcase his abilities to the coaching staff.

Watch: Aaron Donald training with Pitt safety Paris Ford, Bills CB Dane Jackson

Aaron Donald is putting in work at Pitt with current and former Panthers.

Aaron Donald has been back home in Pittsburgh training for most of the offseason, working out often at his alma mater. On Thursday, a video was shared by Prospect Media on Twitter showing Donald on the field with Pitt safety Paris Ford, Bills cornerback Dane Jackson and Pitt freshman Nahki Johnson.

All of them have ties to the university, with Ford being a 2021 draft prospect and Jackson being selected by the Bills in the seventh round out of Pittsburgh a year ago. Donald has close ties to a lot of people within the Panthers organization, having worked out with defensive line prospect Jaylen Twyman since he was a freshman, too.

Donald’s footwork looks as clean as ever and he certainly seems ready for training camp despite it still being three months away.

Watch: Aaron Donald training with Pitt safety Paris Ford, Bills CB Dane Jackson

Aaron Donald is putting in work at Pitt with current and former Panthers.

Aaron Donald has been back home in Pittsburgh training for most of the offseason, working out often at his alma mater. On Thursday, a video was shared by Prospect Media on Twitter showing Donald on the field with Pitt safety Paris Ford, Bills cornerback Dane Jackson and Pitt freshman Nahki Johnson.

All of them have ties to the university, with Ford being a 2021 draft prospect and Jackson being selected by the Bills in the seventh round out of Pittsburgh a year ago. Donald has close ties to a lot of people within the Panthers organization, having worked out with defensive line prospect Jaylen Twyman since he was a freshman, too.

Donald’s footwork looks as clean as ever and he certainly seems ready for training camp despite it still being three months away.

2021 NFL draft: Pittsburgh safety Damar Hamlin could be Day 3 target for Chargers

Renaldo Hill could reunite with one of his former players.

Offensive line, cornerback and edge rusher are seen as the obvious positions that the Chargers must address this offseason. But safety is one that Los Angeles should elect to tamper with, as well.

Rayshawn Jenkins is a pending free agent. Derwin James has experienced major injuries the past two consecutive seasons. Nasir Adderley is coming off of a sophomore slump. Alohi Gilman’s sample size of playing time is small.

After addressing positions of need in the first two days of this year’s draft, the third day would be the most ideal time to deepen the secondary with a safety and one that could be a target is former Pittsburgh’s Damar Hamlin.

Hamlin, a four-star cornerback, came in as the highest-rated defensive player from the state of Pennsylvania. He was recruited by defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill, who served as the Panthers’ secondary coach at the time.

After dealing with injuries his first two seasons, Hamlin was moved from corner to safety in 2019, where he and Paris Ford, one of the top safety prospects, formed a solid tandem.

In 12 games, Hamlin amassed 84 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception and ten passes defensed. He followed that up with another productive campaign, totaling 66 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and seven passes defensed.

Hamlin, the 6-foot and 201 pounder, was one of two safeties in Pittsburgh’s defense which was a mixture of man and zone coverage. At times, he came into the box or played the single-high role when they would mix up their looks.

Hamlin is a diverse, tough, smart and well rounded defensive back who shows great coverage ability and ball skills, as well as excellent tackling in space and traffic. The former basketball and track athlete displays his athleticism when closing on pass-catchers.

For the Chargers, Hamlin would be a versatile player who can be a part of a two-high safety set, used in the box or lined up in the slot across from tight ends. His play speed, tackling ability and competitive nature would serve him well on special teams, too.

Overall, the need for safety depth and special teamers and familiarity with Hill should be selling points for Hamlin when Day 3 of the draft rolls around.

11 players the Texans could take in Round 3 of the 2021 NFL draft

The Houston Texans start the 2021 NFL draft at No. 67 overall in Round 3. Here are 11 players who might be there when they pick.

If the Deshaun Watson trade doesn’t manifest before the 2021 NFL draft, the Houston Texans are picking No. 67 overall in Round 3. Who could the Texans even get?

To get an idea of who might be available, Pro Football Focus released their top-300 prospects. The following are players who are somewhere in between Nos. 64-74, and aren’t ranked in any particular order of importance.

Pitt S Paris Ford opts out of remainder of 2020 college football season

Pitt safety Paris Ford is opting out of the remainder of the 2020 college football season

One of the top safety prospects in the nation is ending his 2020 season early.

Pitt’s Paris Ford is opting out of the remainder of the 2020 college football season, Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi confirmed Monday (via WPXI’s Kellie Burkett).

A potential first-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Ford is a versatile playmaker who loves to play physical, and has a nose for finding the ball to make the big play. He could easily end up being the first player selected at his position come April.

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Jags land various Gators in Draft Wire 3-round mock

The Jacksonville Jaguars were able to find their TE of the future in Draft Wire’s newest mock and he plays down the road in Gainesville.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be wrapping up the first quarter of their 2020 season and it’s been clear that 2021 should be a year where they may need to bolster their defense over their offense. Despite that, Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling had the team opening up his latest mock with three consecutive offensive players, most of which still make sense for their team.

With their first selection, Easterling had the Jags replacing one Alabama left tackle with another by slotting them Alex Leatherwood to hold down things on the blindside.

14. Jacksonville Jaguars

Alex Leatherwood | OT | Alabama

While it’s understandable for the Jags to be slotted offensive players early even with their defensive struggles, this pick may be better spent elsewhere. Simply put, it feels like the Jags have way bigger issues than left tackle. Again, that’s really the case on defense, but there are also some bigger offensive needs than at left tackle.

Sure, Robinson is coming up on a contract year and has been sporadic, but it’s possible fans could be satisfied with the offensive line play when the regular season is over. Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden has gotten the group to play better than we’ve seen in the past although the pass protection is still a work in progress.

As for Leatherwood, my aforementioned statements aren’t to say he’s not talented. At 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, he’s a sturdy tackle who has insane strength when he clutches on to a defender. He’s shown good movement skills, too, but his technique can get in the way and that’s likely because he’s still learning the tackle position as a former guard.

The Jags’ next pick in the first round (thanks to the Los Angeles Rams) was one many fans won’t disagree with, even with there being defensive needs.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR)

Kyle Pitts | TE | Florida

The Jags have struggled to find “the guy” at tight end for much of Dave Caldwell’s tenure. Whether he’s with the Jags’ front office or not in 2021, there isn’t a tight end in college playing better than Kyle Pitts right now, who currently has six touchdowns and 227 yards on the season. In fact, he’s been playing so well that it appears he won’t be available outside of the top-10, though there is plenty of football to be played.

After going with Pitts, the Jags doubled-up on Gators, landing his quarterback Kyle Trask with the selection given to them by the Minnesota Vikings.

34. Jacksonville Jaguars (from MIN)

Kyle Trask | QB | Florida

This pick, of course, hinges on what the Jags get out of Gardner Minshew II. Right now, it’s been more good than bad from the second-year signal-caller, but something we’ve stressed at the Jags Wire is to watch how Minshew looks during the back end of the Jags’ schedule. That’s when the harder opponents will take the field against them, and some even have elite defenses like the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens.

Trask was an intriguing prospect in 2019 and has looked solid in the early stages of 2020, completing just under 72% of his passes for 684 yards, 10 touchdowns, and just one pick. At 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, he also offers impressive size and could intrigue a new front office that inherits good draft capital if Caldwell is fired.

With their second pick in the second-round, the Jags finally addressed the defense by selecting Pittsburgh safety Paris Ford, who would clear up a huge need.

45. Jacksonville Jaguars

Paris Ford | S | Pitt

Ford is a tenacious safety who plays with emotion and could really bring some life to the Jags secondary. Scouts like his downhill ability and skills in zone, but also feel he would be fine as a single-high safety, too. Simply put, he makes a lot of sense for the Jags because he could help them with their woes against the run and struggles in pass defense.

To round up the mock draft, the Jags were slotted yet another Gator —this time on the defensive side.

76. Jacksonville Jaguars

Marco Wilson | CB | Florida

The Jags would be reuniting Wilson with their first pick from April, CJ Henderson. He’s stronger in zone than he is in man coverage and will need some work when it comes to his jam technique, but the tools are there for a team to develop if they would like.

With Easterling’s mock offering plenty to talk about, feel free to let us know on social media how you all feel about this group of prospects. Should they have gone with more offensive picks? Was it fine? Or are these simply prospects you all at home aren’t high on?