Dee Ford can help fill Saints’ pass-rushing void in 2022
By Kristen Wong
The New Orleans Saints could consider acquiring former 49ers defensive end Dee Ford to add to their pass-rush in 2022.
San Francisco recently released Ford after three seasons as Ford simply couldn’t stay healthy during that span. In the last three years, Ford featured in just 18 games recording 22 tackles and 9.5 sacks.
Prior to his 49ers tenure, Ford spent time on the Kansas City Chiefs, where he didn’t suffer quite as many injuries but couldn’t put together a string of consistent and productive seasons.
Is Ford worth the trouble for the Saints?
The 49ers have released DE Dee Ford. An unfortunate run of injuries impacted his tenure with the team.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 27, 2022
NOLA Saints could take a worthwhile gamble of defensive end Dee Ford
The former first-round pick will enter his ninth year in the league, and at this point, he’s just a shell of the elite pass-rusher he was.
A pivotal mistake in the AFC Championship game against the Bucs led to Ford being traded to San Francisco, and after an unsuccessful stint on the West Coast he’s now a free agent.
NOLA could potentially bring him on as a defensive lineman or linebacker to round out the depth chart, though expectations should be kept to a minimum. The 30-year-old would provide little more than insurance, and there’s no guarantee he can stay healthy for the duration of the season, either.
The Saints currently have a solid pass-rushing unit spearheaded by Cam Jordan with Payton Turner and Marcus Davenport hoping to enjoy a breakout year. If converted into a pseudo-linebacker, Ford could flourish alongside Demario Davis, but New Orleans also wants to give Pete Werner as many snaps as possible.
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Would you want to see Dee Ford in the black and gold in 2022?