Oklahoma’s Cody Ford looked like a no-doubt first rounder with his versatility to play tackle or guard and his reputation as a mauler at the collegiate level. His lack of experience, with only one season of starting under his belt in Norman, could have ultimately led to him slipping down the draft board.
Ford’s slip is still quite surprising to me, given his athletic ability and that he should be able to seamlessly play either tackle or guard at the next level. Ford was the ring-leader of an Oklahoma offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award as the top offensive line in college football last season.
Ford and company kept Kyler Murray upright all season as he went on to win the Heisman Trophy, and paved the way for three runners to top 950 yards on the ground. Oklahoma’s dominant offensive line helped the team capture the Big 12 title and earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Ford slipping to the second round is even more surprising given his strong showing in Indianapolis at the combine. He ran a 5.2 40-yard-dash at 320 pounds, and showed good enough footwork to easily kick inside and play guard if asked to do so. I think he is ultimately going to be a guard at the next level, and a really good one with his ability to pull out and reach the second level to open up holes for runners.
The Cardinals could look at double-dipping on Oklahoma players with the first pick of the second round, grabbing Ford to protect their newly minted franchise quarterback. There will be plenty of other teams interested in Ford on day two, and he shouldn’t have to wait long on Friday to find his future home.