The Baltimore Ravens will travel to Pittsburgh without Eddie Jackson, as the team benched the former All-Pro ahead of the battle against their most hated division rivals. A fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Jackson looked like one of the biggest steals during the early part of his career. Earning a full-time starting job as a rookie, the Alabama product earned Pro Bowl honors in 2018 and 2019 and made the First-Team All-Pro squad in 2018. Blessed with the physical gifts to stop the run and cover the deep part of the field, Jackson looked like a franchise cornerstone for the Chicago Bears.
Unfortunately, Jackson’s play dropped off as the seasons progressed. Following a disappointing 2023 where he ranked 76th out of 95 safeties in PFF grade, the Bears cut the expensive veteran early in the 2024 offseason. The Ravens took him in shortly thereafter, allowing him to re-establish his value on a one-year deal. That didn’t work out, as the Ravens benched Eddie Jackson following a season of atrocious play. With no good options on the roster, Baltimore might kick the tires on Rudy Ford, a journeyman safety who last played for the Carolina Panthers.
Ravens Benched Eddie Jackson, Could Sign Rudy Ford
Last year, the Baltimore Ravens had three reliable safeties in Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, and Geno Stone. Hamilton remains as reliable as ever, but Stone is now with the Cincinnati Bengals and Williams is having a disastrous season in his own right. Per Pro Football Focus, his 50.7 overall grade ranks 82nd out of 87 eligible players. PFF’s grades are not gospel, but the fact that the Ravens benched him before Eddie Jackson shows that the coaching staff is not happy with his production. Former undrafted free agent Ar’Darius Washington has played well in a small role, but this team could use a third safety.
With the trade deadline passed, the Ravens don’t have a clear path to finding a major upgrade. If the Ravens want to improve on the duo of Eddie Jackson and Marcus Williams, they’ll need to find someone on the open market. Just about every good player has already found a new home at this point in the season, but Baltimore could try and find a diamond in the rough. Looking at the limited options, Rudy Ford could be the best option for a team that desperately needs to fix the secondary.
A Potential Upgrade
Rudy Ford entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Selected by the Arizona Cardinals, the Auburn product spent the early portion of his career bouncing around the league before finding a role with the Green Bay Packers. Playing in all 17 games while making six starters, Ford finished the 2022 season with three interceptions, 44 tackles, three passes defended, and a respectable 74.6 PFF grade. He proved he wasn’t a one-year fluke, as he recorded two interceptions, six passes defended, 71 tackles, and a 69.9 PFF grade in 2023 while seeing an expanded role.
Ford signed with the Carolina Panthers in the offseason but didn’t make the final roster. Perhaps he isn’t a fit in every scheme, but his recent success with the Packers shows he can be a reliable player in the right scheme. Head coach Jim Harbaugh excels at getting the most out of his players, so perhaps he can find the secret to unlocking the former sixth-round pick. Rudy Ford won’t make anyone forget about Ed Reed, but it shouldn’t be too hard for him to steal snaps from Marcus Williams and the benched Eddie Jackson.
Main Photo: Ken Blaze – USA Today Sports
