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Mike Ford will be playing for a different team come next season, signing a one-year deal worth $2.25 million with the Cleveland Browns. The cornerback played last season with the Atlanta Falcons, primarily on special teams. Ford has certainly become one of the NFL's best special teams players since joining the league in the 2018 season.
He started his career with the Lions, taking 72 per cent of the defensive snaps in his rookie season. Overall, his defensive snaps dropped in his final two seasons with Detroit Lions from 316 snaps in 2019 to 165 in 2020. The undrafted free agent did see a major uptick in special teams snaps: 57 in 2019 to 251 the following season.
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Ford then joined the Denver Broncos for the 2021 season as a gunner on special teams. He played 77 per cent of Denver's snaps on special teams with 240. Last season, the 27-year-old joined Atlanta and proved to be a valuable special teams asset.
He played in all 17 games for the team in the 2022 season, getting 361 snaps on special teams for the team.
Michael Rothstein of ESPN wrote about Mike Ford's abilities on special teams, noting his value on that side of the ball for the Falcons.
Rothstein wrote:
"Ford has developed into one of the league’s top special teams players and is a key contributor there. Pay no attention to the defensive numbers (although he could play corner or safety in an emergency) and look at the overall value to a phase of the game Atlanta places an emphasis on"
In all, Ford has 1,067 snaps on special teams in his NFL career and will to add more with the Browns this upcoming season.
Mike Ford Browns contract breakdown
Ford will earn upwards of $2.25 million with the Lions next season as details of a signing bonus or incentives weren't released to the public.
Mike Ford Madden rating
Currently, the former SE Missouri State star has a 71 rating on Madden 23. That rating hasn't shifted since the game was released last August.
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