The Minnesota Vikings should be selecting an offensive lineman with the 18th pick in the 2019 NFL draft but will All-American T/G Cody Ford, an ideal fit for Vikings’ draft needs, be around at that time?
What the Minnesota Vikings lacked in 2018, Oklahoma Sooner Cody Ford is. At six-foot-four and 334 pounds, Ford is a big athlete who can play both the tackle and guard position, has great strength and initial punch, long arms and a talent for finishing blocks.
In two consecutive seasons, Ford has protected Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks (Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield), and in 2018 was the key part of a unit that won the Joe Moore award for the best offensive line in college football.
He even looks like former Baltimore Raven and Hall of Fame left tackle Jonathon Ogden. Yeah, a stretch, but can’t a guy dream?
Cody Ford represents an opportunity for the Vikings to get a rare athlete that can help their offense in the ways it needs most. With the curiosity of Brian O’Neill moving to left tackle, Riley Reiff moving to guard and guys like Mike Remmers and Tom Compton moving out of town, Ford may be asked to wear more than one hat on the line. Finding young players with his skill sets make offensive line coaches extremely happy.
Ford will not be picked in the draft’s top ten, he doesn’t quite have that kind of pedigree, but most likely will not fall too much further. So if we take a look at teams picking 12 to 17, five before Minnesota, we can examine, with some acute speculation, whether or not the Vikings can land this superlative football player that would clearly make their team better immediate
On The Clock
At 12, the Green Bay Packers. As we know, the Pack needs defense, both in their ravaged defensive secondary and in regard to their pass rush. They also will be looking at bona fide wide receivers to tandem with Davante Adams. Someone–forgive the dig–that Aaron Rodgers can “trust”. They won’t go with Ford that early.
The Miami Dolphins, at 13, have numerous needs, but will most likely a splash pick for new head coach Brian Flores and the wavering Dolphins fans, not a guard/tackle.
Atlanta at 14 will be looking to revamp a defense which has been diminishing since their Super Bowl trip in 2016, and with a solid selection of playmakers in the first round, they’ll go that route.
The Washington Redskins need a receiver too badly to go with Cody Ford. It may be in the best interests of returning quarterback Alex Smith and head coach Jay Gruden to get help with the running game, but owner Daniel Snyder just isn’t that smart.
That leaves picks 16 and 17, going to the Carolina Panthers and the Cleveland Browns.
Danger, Will Robinson.
Carolina is a fit for Cody Ford for two big reasons. Cam Newton is a talented hotshot who needs the kind of protection Ford could provide at tackle, and starting tailback Christian McCaffrey would love to be the one running behind Ford’s form if he was put at the guard position. Ford seeks and destroys as good as anyone.
However, Carolina will be seeing a stock of players leaving in 2019. Can they go offensive line with Cam Newton needing a playmaking receiver to complete an offensive skill triangle? Not something to bet on.
Cleveland has the chance to pair Cody Ford with his old teammate in quarterback Baker Mayfield. There’s got to be a temptation there to the Brown’s front office. Also, running back Nick Chubb missed a rookie 1,000 season by 4 yards. How many more could he have muscled out with the steamrolling Ford in front of him?
The Browns played good defense last year. They could be eyeing Ford as an excellent piece of their future offensive puzzle.
The Man For The Job
The Vikings will have options, but by most examinations, Ford is their ideal pick. If they have to shuffle their line during the season (and God knows, nobody wants that to happen), Ford appears to be the type of player who can take on NFL defensive linemen. He has fast feet, great balance, and power. His coaches love him.
Minnesota will also love him if he arrives in Minnesota at the end of April. Viking running backs Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray will love him when they all walk onto the same football field. His teammates will love him because he is going to make the Minnesota Vikings better.
Mike Zimmer will love him because he loves to pound his opponent. He has not only shown that he’s done it in college, but he also has the talent to do it in the pros. Ford is the kind of “right guy” that this coach wants on his team.