Packers Rumors: Rudy Ford gains edge in starting safety battle
With Darnell Savage cemented in one safety spot, there has been an open competition to figure out who will start in the second safety slot for the Green Bay Packers. Well, it would appear that a frontrunner has emerged in the form of six-year vet Rudy Ford.
Ford joined Green Bay over the summer after stops in Arizona, Philadelphia, and most recently, Jacksonville. He appeared in 15 games for the Jaguars last season, making four starts and accruing a career-high three interceptions. Now Ford is front of mind for Packers coach Matt LaFleur.
"I think we've got a pretty good indication," LaFleur told Packers Wire with regard to the safety competition. "But there is still more football in front of us. We've got, obviously, a practice today, and a game."
Ford was the starter when training camp began, but LaFleur has cycled through several potential options at safety, from Jonathan Owens to Tavarius Moore and Anthony Johnson. It would appear that Ford has the edge, however, due to his communication skills.
"Communication is a really big part of that position and making sure that everyone is on the same page," LaFleur said. "I think he's handled that pretty well. Hopefully, he can put together another good practice today and go out there and compete in the game at a high level."
Even if Ford does emerge as the week one starter, he will have to perform in the regular season. His seat is warm and it's clear the Packers don't view safety as the most stable position on the roster. Ford can change that with a strong campaign, though.
Packers Rumors: Potential trade for Cowboys DT Neville Gallimore
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report recently suggested one trade every NFL team should make before the 2023 season. And folks, the 2023 season is right around the corner. Week 1 kicks off on Sept. 7, less than three weeks from now.
For the Packers, Ballentine suggested the acquisition of Dallas Cowboys DT Neville Gallimore, a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. In three NFL seasons, Gallimore has 74 tackles and a whopping three sacks. He missed the majority of the 2021 season with a dislocated elbow and struggled to carve out a consistent role in 2022.
Gallimore appeared in 16 games with only one start last season. The Cowboys are notoriously deep on the front line, but Gallimore has failed to live up to expectations as a third-round pick. With his career grinding to a halt in Dallas, a change of scenery is his best hope for a professional breakout. The Cowboys may feel it's time to jump ship and the Packers can scoop him up for pennies on the dollar.
Green Bay lost Dean Lowry and Darren Reed in free agency, as Ballentine notes. Help in the trenches is desperately needed and the young Packers can afford to be patient with an unproven talent. At 26 years old, Gallimore still has productive years left in the tank. His odds of success in Green Bay are exponentially higher than his odds of success in Dallas.
Packers Rumors: Sean Clifford named Jordan Love's backup
Matt LaFleur confirmed everybody's suspicions on Thursday when he officially named rookie QB Sean Clifford QB2 behind new starter Jordan Love. The Packers are wandering into uncharted waters without Aaron Rodgers, but there's every reason to feel good about the two arms atop the depth chart right now.
Love has been sensational in preseason action, showcasing his trademark deep-ball power while also making quick reads in the pocket. A couple of years of studying Rodgers appears to have rubbed off. Lost in the excitement around Love, however, has been a strong preseason effort from Clifford.
The No. 149 pick in the fifth round of April's NFL Draft out of Penn State, Clifford entered training camp with mixed expectations. He completed 33 of 45 passes for 345 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in Green Bay's first two preseason games. LaFleur cited the rookie's mental fortitude and ability to rebound from mistakes: "The game's not too big for him."
In 13 senior season games with the Nittany Lions, Clifford completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 2,822 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Our John Buhler wasn't too fond of Green Bay's pick on draft night: "I know this is a draft where taking a quarterback in day three was all the rage, but he was an undrafted player who went in the fifth round."
Safe to say the Packers believe in Clifford. We will see if he can prove the detractors wrong.
Clifford's primary camp competition came from Alex McGough, the reigning USFL MVP who joined the roster late. McGough was a seventh-round pick to Seattle in 2018, but he has not registered a single NFL snap. Clifford's emergence decreases the likelihood of McGough breaking through any time soon.