2021 Raiders Draft Prospect: S Paris Ford

2021 Raiders Draft Prospect Profile
Name: Paris Ford
Position: Safety
School: Pittsburgh
Height: 6ft.
Weight: 190 pounds
Stats

Coverage-4

The film bears out that Ford looks comfortable in the deep green. He flows to the ball on the underneath route and doesn’t look pressed on vertical ones. There is a sense of calm and job acknowledgment. Ford will also sift through the multiple sets on a side, staying with his opponent, sliding through pick plays. Ford instinctive narrows and reads the various tells of down/distance and route tendencies.

Ball Skills-4

Ball in the hair, Ford shines. He uses the delayed are, instead watches the eyes and hands of the target to see the arrival. Ford eschews peeking in the backfield, favoring to shadow the receiving. He stabs at even the most fluttery of a pass and heads downfield.

Speed-3

Granted, Ford may not break the stopwatch, he plays fast enough to play centerfield in any NFL defense. More importantly, he uses this speed to break on the ball. Whether a pass or run, Ford always made up his mind is en route. Foot speed mixed with decisiveness makes for a faster playing style.

Agility-2

In this trait, Ford displays enough nimbleness to carry him through. While not hypertwitched, he shows the technique to not only keep up but make the play.

Tackling-4

Despite his average size, Ford brings an aggressive, thumping style to his tackling. What stands out most is the ability to drive through the target. Never a catch tackler, Ford hits with the intention of jarring the ball loose or stopping the play. More importantly, he sees what he hits. That is to say, watch his head and facemask. Ford using his entire 190 pounds, behind his pads, to strike. His wrap still needs to be a hair quicker, yet that feels like a minimal problem.

Intangibles-2

Official booted Ford twice for targeting penalties. He must ratchet that aspect down. He plays intense, which if harnessed, works.

Diagnosis-3

Ford will pull the trigger on the play right after the snap. He feels with his eyes, discerns the best plan of action. Versus the run, he will fill with gusto. Sideline plays allow him to gamble. The deep middle will see him play with a measured approach. Ford avoids looking lost.

Raiders Fit

The Raiders need all the quality safety help they can muster. Outside of Johnathan Abram, whose problematic approach hurts them, the team lacks depth. Immediately, Ford offers them the best of both possible worlds. He flashes a nose for the ball while delivering legal punishment. Granted, Abram hits like a truck, but he freelances, which inevitably hurts the backend of the secondary. Ford appears capable of patrolling the back end, allowing Abram to wreak havoc near the line of scrimmage or box.

Points: 22/28 (based on a 1-4 scale)