ESPN projects former Texas Longhorn as key addition to watch when NFL free agency begins…
As a defensive tackle for the Texas Longhorns, Poona Ford wasn’t well-known, but he used a certain combination of skills to build a lengthy NFL career. The 5-foot-11, 305-pound player, who played for Texas from 2014 to 2017, was an undrafted free agent who struggled to make NFL rosters up until this point.
Few predicted that a player who finished four seasons with 136 tackles but only four sacks would play in the NFL for seven years. Now, however, Ford has just had an incredible season with the Los Angeles Chargers.
This has led to ESPN naming Ford as one of the top under-the-radar free-agents to watch when NFL free agency begins next week.
Ford has been around and played well before, but it’s been several years since he was a quality player starting for Seattle in 2020 and 2021. His last year in Seattle and only season in Buffalo was far less positive. It’s fair to say 2024 with the Chargers was a make-or-break year.
The 29-year-old has rebounded with a career-best year. A capable two-gapper despite short, Ford is also a stellar pass-rusher. His low center of gravity and quick first step can get him in trouble as he leaves rushing lanes in order to chase tackles for loss.
Still, it’s been worthwhile since so few interior defenders can be disruptive. He’s averaged 25 quarterback pressures in four of his last five years and has 11.5 sacks in his career.
The Chargers are getting great play from Ford. There’s no doubt he’ll be on a roster in 2025 and beyond, possibly even on a multi-year deal.
