CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Bengals have re-signed offensive lineman Cody Ford to a one-year contract days before he was set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Of the team’s 16 free agents heading into the weekend, Ford was one of the most obvious candidates to re-sign.
Ford joined the Bengals last year when he was the first outside free agent to officially sign with the team, agreeing to a one-year, $1.1 million contract.
Cincinnati Bengals Re-Sign Cody Ford
A 2019 second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills, Ford appeared in all 17 games for the Bengals in 2023 with one start. He at first appeared to be a depth signing for the interior of the offensive line, but he quickly established himself as the top backup tackle three days into training camp.
“When he put the pads on, he really showed that he’s probably our next best lineman — tackle, guard, whatever it may be,” former offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said in October. “We felt like if somebody needed to go in and play, he was the next guy off the bench at either spot. He ascended into that role pretty quickly.”
All five Cincinnati offensive linemen started all 17 games, so the bulk of Ford’s playing time came as an extra tackle in jumbo sets, including the first play of his one start against the Pittsburgh Steelers in quarterback Jake Browning’s first career NFL start.
Ford has appeared in 66 games for the Bills, Arizona Cardinals, and Bengals with 33 starts.
Staying in Cincy. pic.twitter.com/F7dvH6wJPW
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals)
He was a college teammate of Cincinnati left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. at Oklahoma.
Ford delivered one of the quotes of the year when recounting his free agency experience last spring, saying, “I was kind of butt hurt,” when recounting how Brown ghosted him when he suggested they reunite in Cincinnati.
“I texted him a couple weeks before I even had a visit lined up, and then I texted him the day before my visit,” Ford said. “I was like, ‘Hey, I’m going to Cincinnati. Let’s meet there.’ And he didn’t respond. So I was kind of butt hurt.”
If the season started today, Ford would be the starting right tackle with Jonah Williams set to leave in free agency. But the Bengals are expected to sign an outside veteran and use a top draft pick on a tackle of the future.
Ford was an ideal fit in the locker room and is expected to be a quality, inexpensive backup again this season.
The Bengals also could re-sign another backup lineman who is set to be an unrestricted free agent in Max Scharping. Also a second-round pick in 2019, Scharping joined the Bengals in 2022 when they claimed him off waivers.
KEEP READING: What Are the Chances of Re-Signing for Each of the Cincinnati Bengals’ 16 Free Agents?
The Houston Texans waived Scharping on cutdown day and expected to re-sign him to their practice squad, but the Bengals put in a claim, and Scharping ended up starting two playoff games after Alex Cappa got injured late in the season.
A guard and tackle for his entire career, Scharping won the backup center position in training camp last year, so he would bring the ultimate position versatility to a Cincinnati offensive line thin on depth on the interior.
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