Paris Ford, Pittsburgh
Another potential sixth-round target for the LA Chargers is Pittsburgh’s Paris Ford. Ford would be a solid selection at this point in the draft if the Chargers can use him and develop him properly. Personally, I do not want the team waiting this long to select a safety, but if they do, Ford or Gillespie can be decent options.
Ford is different from Gillespie, and is probably the better prospect of the two. Ford is a better athlete and has better ball skills, although his coverage is lacking. He is not a bad tackler at all, he is just not the physical hitter that Gillespie can be.
Ford is another split zone safety candidate, which is the reason why he is on this list. He has the ball skills to play free safety but is a good enough tackler and is athletic enough to play strong safety. Regardless, he provides depth at both positions.
Ford probably should not get much playing time in his rookie season. There are some coverage holes as well as the natural jump to the NFL level that have to be worked out. He will naturally get some snaps under his belt but the hope would be that he can provide depth this season that can blossom into a contributor, similar to Rayshawn Jenkins.
For the time being, he can be a special teams contributor which cannot be overlooked. The LA Chargers need all the help they can get in special teams.