New Orleans Saints Jaylan Ford Is A Special Player, Steal In 2024 NFL Draft

The New Orleans Saints have a busy linebacker room with Demario Davis leading the way, and Jaylan Ford adds a special and invaluable element of the game to the position. The sixth-round NFL Draft prospect brings a remarkably high IQ to the team that everyone including Pete Werner and Willie Gay can benefit from if Ford is ever called into action.
A premier communicator, Ford could go a long way in his development over time. But expectations about him should be about what he can achieve as his own player, not how he could be like someone else. Ford's speed will be questioned. But his processing ability could help to close the gap.
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[@tr377723]

This draft class for the Saints, if all these players make a contribution to this team in the next few years it will go down as one of the best draft classes since 2017, a franchise altering draft, one that came at the perfect time for the Saints organization. who says you can't contend and rebuild at the same time? They are consistently improving the rosters with each move they make. They added pieces to the roster with this current draft that can help to improve the team. This Linebacker out of Texas, j. Ford l, is another great addition, lots of potential there. He makes plays all over the field, he's sideline to sideline guy, elite tackler. Linebacker is a very important position. You gotta control the middle of the field and cover tight ends in the passing game. He's versatile enough to get it done!!!

[@lattimoreland2399]

Texans turned it around in one year with a worst roster. Saints definitely can too if the coaching and Qb play is better this season.

[@kawshin211]

Agreed

[@adamabburkett2898]

Ford is a great coverage LB, maybe one of the best in the entire draft, nice size, speed, instincts and although Demario and Pete are still there, add Willie Gay Jr and Ford with Demarco Jackson also in the mix.. The versatility is really nice in the current LB room.. (assuming Sewell starts the season on PUP).. Orji was a good UDFA on the PS but with this depth it's an uphill battle but I love the competition in the room

[@cheetahturner4576]

Dude DA an carr not exactly teams head coach an qb

[@cheetahturner4576]

Dude drsft experts said he slow lol where u get your info

[@kenfox22]

Willie Gaye will be a good player

[@MikeyWhoDat601]

I agree. I'm stoled to see him and young in black and gold

[@westbankrick885]

My team everyday 🍿

[@Carla_P3]

Me Likey J Ford's upside and potential. Let's GEAUX 💪🏾 😤 #YourTeamEveryday #LockedOnSaints

[@larryconnerjr1835]

I heard other draft “experts “ say this linebacker lacks speed and projects more as a backup LB or special teams contributor and probably Isn’t fast enough to be a starter in the future I hope that analysis is wrong

[@Bigeazybelieving]

Like Ross was saying if he can be smart enough to know where to be at the right time, I think speed won’t matter if he’s where he needs to be to make the play, his film also proved if he gets his hands on you he’s bringing you down

[@davidsellers3639]

Probably not getting any faster

[@MonsterLuv504]

The offense side of the ball had the part of the Saints draft. Jalen Ford I think he’s a special teamer at best

[@terrymolinere9927]

Rey lewis wasn't that fast either. He had that iq.

[@inevitableexpertise1016]

And he was tapped in the head

[@gabrielgutierrez6327]

ATX stand up let’s go ford ‼️😊

[@teehort]

I honestly can say in the last 6 yrs this draft feel like a hit..

[@cheetahturner4576]

Lol only 1starter on list not a hit

[@johannconway9363]

I hope he hits the field some type of way Ross

[@danielburkett3641]

Ross, can we talk about/cover an in depth look at the new punt return rules and how our team may approach that change specifically? I think on both sides we have an elite level of talent. That can use this change to our advantage

[@anthonyjefferson1702]

Ross,I love your podcast, when talking about a player that know one has seen,please show some highlights of that player,I watch college but a lot of people don't know these players,I watch college football 🏈 so I'm familiar with Ford

[@LockedOnSaints]

Can’t shot highlights on KZbin, sorry!

[@godson3151]

I’m happy Mickey loomis making big moves, cause I believe we can win the Super Bowl this year or next year

[@inevitableexpertise1016]

Our Defense is gonna be more than fine.....The only positions I feel we should address is Safety & maybe another pass rusher....

[@jamesgreen4563]

Ross, you are driving me crazy man .....I use to be a big fan, but you are losing me. Stop telling us how great the rookies are going to be ...I don't want feel good emotion. Just tell me what's really going on with the team as it relates to their NFC South opponents

[@ccarter_46]

Yeah Ross, he’s so special, he’s special teams. Pump the breaks bruh lawd.

[@LockedOnSaints]

Uh oh! Someone didn’t listen to the episode! Hahaha. Don’t worry, I’m not overhyping. He truly does have a special element to his game, though. Doesn’t mean he’ll be anything big at the next level, but if he is it’s because of that special thing. And I highlighted it as such in the episode. :)

[@ccarter_46]

@@LockedOnSaints I listen to your episodes and agree with a lot of them but I’m not afraid to disagree where I don’t agree. I hope I’m proven wrong because I’ve been a diehard fan since the Dome patrol days. He will contribute on special teams first, he may play some LB but I doubt he outplays Gay,Werner, and Davis in practice. You think he will beat any of those guys out as a rookie? I’ll wait Ross…

[@Bigeazybelieving]

Rudy gay gonna start. Pete and Demario. Start And K. Hudson is our special teams tackler.

[@Bigeazybelieving]

Willie* my bad

[@DMkizzy]

Gay was tough on the grizzlies with OJ mayo hope he can contribute on the saints.

[@kawshin211]

​@@DMkizzy😂😂😂

[@user-ug3iu6oc6b]

Pete is not good sideline to sideline hence the signing of Gay

[@Bigeazybelieving]

@@user-ug3iu6oc6b yea he lacks the speed some times and doesn’t always make the tackle. Willie jr though and we brought in speedy keleke Hudson. Who in the last 7 games of last season had like 80 tackles.

[@mrmonty86]

This linebacker corps hasn't been this deep in years, and I'm maybe the only person who says move Werner to safety. He did play safety early during his time at Ohio State, and he would be a good fit there because he's undersized at linebacker.

[@drseuessbaby]

Didn't know that. I don't think he's fast enough

[@lewistangi8004]

Werner is a great linebacker. Why move him? If anything, Alontae would be a good fit, and we just got Kool Aid

[@davidsellers3639]

I doubt he’s fast enough for nfl safety

[@user-ug3iu6oc6b]

He is not rangy as a linebacker how he gonna be rangy enough to play safety

[@cheetahturner4576]

Damn glad u not DC Warner is slow safety he get burned repeatedly

[@jamesgreen4563]

Ross, how is he Special??? I mean seriously be real

[@Bigeazybelieving]

I think hodge is staying bc Jeff Ireland listens to him and gets the backers he wants.

[@RichardHayes-wx9np]

Ray Lewis ran a sub 4.5. Now Zack Thomas was a bit slow but a dog

[@lannybrasher2452]

Maybe one or two can transition to a defensive end.🤔

[@darkhorse2259]

This isn't Madden. That would never work.

[@lannybrasher2452]

@@darkhorse2259 happens more than you might believe.

[@2iggy_]

@@lannybrasher2452no it doesn’t.

[@lannybrasher2452]

@@2iggy_ it's happening as we speak. Abdul Carter is doing it. There's been others throughout the years. Although pat swilling was a lb, he lined up on the end many times.

[@saintakira9627]

Saints have a prototype they use at DE and haven't wavered from that build in some years. Minimum 6'3" 270 lbs. This is what Allen wants for his defense and what they draft and sign in FA exclusively to fit that size profile. Right, wrong, or otherwise; if you're not 6'3" 270 you're not playing DE for the Saints; that's the scheme-fit Allen prioritizes in base 4-3. He schemes up blitzes (successfully) for guys like Kaden Ellis and Zack Baun (a stand up 'DE' / rusher in college who was mis-used his entire Saints career until last season). Point being, none of the LBs Ross mentioned today are remotely close to fulfilling base-line requirements for Allen's base 4-3 DE.

[@nevellewis3547]

WHO DAT

[@billjenkins2503]

The saints cant draft and develop DE's. Payton Turner is another bust and we cant draft good DE's, develop them or sign good free agents. Who cares about run stuffing LB's we need some guys that can get after the QB

[@LockedOnSaints]

But if they can’t draft and develop DEs, isn’t it better that they drafted a different position ?

[@user-gz2ob9rp6r]

I'm not a saint's fan are a hater. I do think they did an excellent job getting a lot of value in the draft. Rattler in the 5th was an absolute steal. I think Rattler will give a lot of quality play , or someone you can trade and get value for. He's as good as Carr and can make all the throws.

[@eduardopoceros7737]

Lol

[@DeeDuRag]

Na he sucks Ross…. Slow, lacks awareness, and is just a wrap up tackler at the LB position which is never good

[@Bigeazybelieving]

His iq is really good. Quit playin

[@Bigeazybelieving]

Watch the film.

[@DeeDuRag]

@@Bigeazybelieving definitely watched film… nothing special about this guy besides his hands

[@2iggy_]

This is gonna be great to come back and laugh at.

[@DeeDuRag]

@@2iggy_ yea for me… what’s he gonna do that’ll make my comment laughable? Gonna become an all pro, starter, ROY, what? Cause that’s what he’ll have to do to make this laughable… making the team as a back up isn’t anything

[@lesforet4495]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@bulldogsaints3612]

What I’ve see is he lacks situational awareness and is very poor in coverage skills. He is currently at best the 6th LB on the Saints roster and a long shot to make the 53.

[@theyogyprocess]

This is not true. Where did you get that from?! Obviously you have not watched a game this kid has played or watched any film on this kid. Coverage is his best quality along with his versatility. A 3 down backer. But ok, carry on.

[@bulldogsaints3612]

@@theyogyprocess Pretty much every breakdown I’veseen. ESPN, NFL, PFF, Ect

[@Chess1.5]

Win 4 games, maybe 5

[@STUDmonster187]

Hahahaha!!!! You don't watch football

[@Chess1.5]

@STUDmonster187 people don't watch new orleans saints, maybe only in New Orleans

[@cheetahturner4576]

5games u see schedule lol won 9 with crappy schedule last yr

[@Chess1.5]

@@cheetahturner4576 coach might be fired mid-season