Summary

Cody Ford was selected in Round 2 (#38 Overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft out of the University of Oklahoma. A dominant collegiate offensive lineman, Ford was a multi-year starter for the Sooners and one of the most accomplished linemen in college football during his tenure. At Oklahoma, he earned Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year (2018), First-Team All-Big 12 honors, and Consensus All-American recognition, anchoring an offense that consistently ranked among the nation’s best. In the NFL, Ford has played for the Bills, Cardinals, and Bengals, appearing in 60+ career games with starts at guard and tackle. While his professional career has been marked by positional changes and competition, Ford has carved out value as a versatile interior offensive lineman capable of stepping into multiple roles. He is widely regarded as a high-character, resilient professional, praised for his toughness, grit, willingness to adapt, and team-first mentality despite fluctuating roles and expectations.

Strengths

• Power & Play Strength: Strong, physical lineman who can generate movement in the run game. Effective in gap, power, and inside-zone schemes.

• Versatility: Experience at both guard spots and tackle; valuable depth flexibility. Extensive reps against high-level NFL defensive fronts.

• Anchor vs. Bull Rush: Difficult to walk back when leverage is sound. Plays with edge and battles through contact.

• Hand Strength: Heavy hands allow him to latch, pivot, and manipulate defenders.

Weaknesses

• Foot Speed: Lateral quickness can be stressed by athletic edge rushers. Limited ability to recover once initially beaten.

• Pass Protection Consistency: Susceptible to speed and inside counters when technique slips. Grabbing and late hands can lead to holding calls.

• Pad Level Discipline: Can play high, leading to leverage losses.

• Position Ceiling: More effective inside than at tackle at the NFL level. Serves as more of a “band-aid” type player to get you through a game than a long-term fixture.

Outlook

Cody Ford is best suited for physical, run-oriented offenses that value power, toughness, and interior flexibility. His skill set translates best to guard roles, where he can use strength and hand power rather than being exposed consistently on the edge. Teams that employ gap and downhill run concepts will maximize his effectiveness, while pass-heavy offenses may require protection help or rotational usage. Looking ahead, Ford projects as a depth starter or high-end interior backup capable of providing stability across multiple positions. While he has not reached the ceiling once projected from his draft status, his toughness, experience, and versatility give him continued value on NFL rosters. In the right role, Ford can be a reliable rotational lineman who contributes to physical offensive identities and provides insurance against injuries along the line.