STRENGTHS: Ford looks the part of a speed merchant with a tight-skinned, athletic frame, including long limbs. He glides off the line of scrimmage, accelerating fluidly to force defenders to respect his ability to go deep and shows very good balance to sink his hips, as well as burst out of his breaks to create separation. Ford shows the initial quickness and lateral agility to avoid defenders in press coverage, occasionally mixing in a hesitation move to get opponents off-balance. He is willing to run across the middle and cut back inside on quick screens, showing the toughness to absorb big hits and still hang on to the ball. Ford was asked to play outside as well as in the slot and was asked to run a variety of pro routes, including the staple slants, posts, drags and verticals. He possesses generally reliable hands, demonstrating excellent body control to contort in the air to make difficult receptions. Ford's body control is also evident in his ability to drag his feet near the sideline and he shows good awareness of the marker. He is a durable player, playing in all 40 games of his college career, starting 37 of them. Also recruited as a basketball player, averaging 37 points per game his senior year of high school.
WEAKNESSES: Ford has his share of circus catches to his credit but he does not possess elite ballskills, dropping a handful of passes in the games viewed and double-clutching others. He does not often enough use his height to his full advantage, leaping into the air but corralling the ball near his helmet or chest rather than extending his arms to catch at its highest point. He is overly reliant upon his agility to avoid the press, rarely using his hands to fight off cornerbacks and this lack of physicality also is evident in his downfield blocking, where Ford is willing to get in the way of defenders but does not work to sustain blocks. Ford can tip off defenders to the play call, at times throttling down on running plays or even passes that he does not anticipate coming his direction, though to his Ford improved in this area in 2016.
IN OUR VIEW: Pardon the pun, but with his sleek frame and acceleration, Ford can get up and go like a Mustang and even has the reliability of a F-150 - but scouts wish he came with more payload. Ford may lack the eye-popping measurable to crack the first round but he should make a club look smart with a Day Two selection.
COMPARES TO: Marvin Jones, Detroit Lions: While perhaps lacking some of his peers' name recognition, Ford is among the better flankers in this draft, showing the sharp route-running and hands to become a standout in a West Coast or spread scheme.
