Norman’s own pipeline to the NFL took another hit this week, as former Oklahoma Sooners offensive tackle Cody Ford was just released by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ford, 29, appeared in 50 regular-season games with 10 starts for Cincinnati after signing as a free agent in 2023. He entered camp as a candidate to be the swing tackle behind Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims.
Younger options Javon Foster and Jalen Rivers took the second-team reps, and Ford was let go ahead of the final roster cut deadline so he could get a jump on finding a new home. Coach Zac Taylor praised the way Ford filled multiple spots on the line, often with little practice time.
Sooner fans remember a different version of Ford. After redshirting in 2015, he started early in 2016 before a broken fibula against Ohio State ended that season.
He bounced back, then locked down right tackle for all 14 games in 2018. That year he earned first-team All-Big 12 honors from the coaches, third-team All-America recognition, and helped an offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s best. He protected Baker Mayfield and then Kyler Murray on units that piled up yards and points.
Buffalo then took him 38th overall in the 2019 draft.
The NFL chapter has been more journeyman than star. Ford started 15 games as a rookie for the Bills, bounced to Arizona, then found a niche in Cincinnati as the guy who could play tackle or guard when injuries hit.
Last season, he even hauled in a 21-yard reception from Joe Burrow on his birthday. Versatility kept him employed; a rough preseason and a crowded depth chart ended it.
For Oklahoma people, the story is familiar. Plenty of former Sooners grind through the league as depth pieces after starring in Norman.
Ford never became a perennial starter, but he lasted eight seasons and stayed useful. That is a respectable career by any measure.
He is now a free agent with the regular season approaching. Teams still hunting for interior or tackle depth will notice a 6-foot-3, 345-pound veteran who has started 42 career games and can slide inside or out.
Sooners Nation will watch to see where Ford lands next. Boomer Sooner travels with him.
