JACKSONVILLE – Special teams matters for the Jaguars' new regime.
That became more apparent Wednesday, with the Jaguars acquiring one of the NFL's better young special teams players on the first day of free agency.
Rudy Ford, a special-teams ace and safety for the Philadelphia Eagles the past two seasons, has agreed to terms to sign with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent. The Jaguars announced the agreement on Wednesday at 4 p.m., the start of the NFL's 2021 League Year.
Ford (6-feet-0, 204 pounds), a sixth-round selection from Auburn by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2017 NFL Draft, was traded to the Eagles during the 2019 preseason for defensive tackle Bruce Hector. He played eight games this past season and missed eight games with a hamstring injury.
Ford, 26, has 31 career special teams tackles, including a career-high 13 in 2020.
The Jaguars on Wednesday at 4 p.m. also announced they had agreed to terms with 10 other unrestricted free agents: wide receiver/returner Jamal Agnew, defensive lineman Tyson Alualu, wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, cornerback Shaquill Griffin, running back Carlos Hyde, safety Rayshawn Jenkins, wide receiver Marvin Jones, tight end Chris Manhertz, defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris and defensive end Jihad Ward.
They also announced they acquired defensive tackle Malcolm Brown in a trade from the New Orleans Saints.
