After not hearing his name called during the 2021 NFL Draft, Pitt safety Paris Ford immediately found himself a new football home.
Ford has signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent and will be looking to join up with former Pitt star Aaron Donald.
A year ago, no one would have predicted that Ford wouldn’t get drafted but unfortunately for him that turned out to be the case. Ford made what now looks to be a questionable decision to opt out of the middle of Pitt’s season. That decision, coupled with the fact that Ford turned in what was described by multiple scouts as a very poor workout at Pitt Pro Day and his NFL stock plummeted.
The Steel Valley alum arrived at Pitt as a highly decorated 4-star recruit and after redshirting his freshman season and then being switched to cornerback in 2018, Ford had a breakout 2019 season when he was moved back to safety. Ford earned first team All-ACC and third team All-American honors after registering 97 tackles, 11 pass breakups, three interceptions and three forced fumbles.
Despite playing only seven games this season, Ford earned second team honors by collecting 45 tackles and three interceptions.
Ford’s athletic skills and ability to move from sideline to sideline has never been questioned, but Ford will need to display that to the coaches consistently if he wants to make the Rams 53-man roster.
Would have preferred the steelers signed him rather than Wade but a change in environment will help him.
Opting out in the middle of the season really didn’t look good. I think he’s a helluva player and if this motivates him, he will be fine… but he doesn’t have much wiggle room. I’ll be cheering for him (except against my Niners).
He quit when things got rough for him he better change his attitude if he plans on making the nfl