Larry Warford has reportedly agreed to a contract with the New Orleans Saints. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Warford spent the first four seasons of his career as member of the Detroit Lions.
Source: The #Saints are signing G Larry Warford to beef up their OL. Was a big area of focus for them.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2017
Report: Larry Warford to Sign With New Orleans Saints
The fourth year offensive guard has played with the Detroit Lions since he was drafted in 2013.
Warford has played all of his four pro seasons for the Detroit Lions protecting superstar quarterback Matthew Stafford. At right guard, Warford and crew allowed 37 sacks in 2016, down from the two previous seasons.
Warford has shown consistent improvement on the line in his tenure with Detroit. His play has been limited on the field in his four-year career. He played only one full season, his rookie year. In 2016, Warford played 15 of the 16 regular season games in 2016, missing Week Six due to a non-football related injury to his hip.
Warford led the team in 2016 in both pass blocking and run blocking. Pro Football Focus ranked Detroit’s line at number 19. The ranking is due in large part to Warford and right tackle Riley Reiff, also a 2016 free agent.
A San Diego native, Warford moved to Kentucky for high school and went to college at the University of Kentucky. There he was named second-team All SEC for 2010, 2011, and 2012. He was also named PFF’s 2013 rookie of the year, which raised his stock enough to be picked up by Detroit in the third round of the 2013 draft. For an offensive lineman, that’s not a bad place to go.
As the offensive line goes, it’s hard to calculate stats. It’s hard even finding anything other than games played and games started. Larry Warford has been consistent in helping his team protect Stafford. Considering the decrease in sacks, Warford and Detroit’s offensive line is doing a better job year to year. Game film is a big indicator of Larry Warford’s worth to a team. He proves it by protecting the quarterback, his running backs, and blocking his way downfield.
