BREAKING: Bills Sign DT Poona Ford

After not selecting one defensive lineman during the NFL Draft, Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane made a huge addition to the Bills’ defense this afternoon, signing former Seahawks DT Poona Ford to a one-year deal, according to the team and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The #Bills are signing former #Seahawks nose tackle Poona Ford to a one-year deal, per sources.

One of the top free agents still available, Ford turned down more money elsewhere to try to win a ring in Buffalo. A big (literally) post-draft addition for Sean McDermott’s defense. pic.twitter.com/fTAgyLf80s

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 2, 2023

Ford’s real first name is Kaylon, but his grandmother nicknamed him “Pooh Bear” at a young age which eventually shortened to “Poona”. Before signing with Seattle as an undrafted free agent in 2018, Ford attended the University of Texas. In four years with the Longhorns, he accumulated 136 total tackles and 4.0 sacks in 46 career games.

Ford is entering his sixth NFL season after putting together an impressive first five seasons. Thanks to a strong rookie season in 2018, Ford became a full-time starter for the Seahawks in 2019. He then earned a two-year contract extension worth $12.3 million in 2021.

Here are his career stats and PFF grades.

#Bills DT Poona Ford’s Career PFF Grades:

2018: 90.3
2019: 73.4
2020: 81.9
2021: 73.0
2022: 56.2

And as for his career stats ⬇️ #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/Tpw8lI8UUt

— Kevin Siracuse (@kevin_siracuse) May 2, 2023

Bills DT Depth

Ford brings some much needed depth to the Bills’ defensive line. Although he just signed a one-year deal, Ford immediately slides in as a second-string defensive tackle and becomes a candidate to get extended past this year. All of Buffalo’s DTs will have to work harder if they want to be on the roster not only this year, but beyond; this is the perfect depth and competition signing to push someone like Tim Settle.

Updated #Bills Depth Chart at IDL …

1T: Jones, Ford
3T: Oliver, Phillips, Settle

Camp 3Ts: Bryant, Broughton, Vickers
Camp 1Ts: Ankou, Dale#BillsMafia | #GoBills | @Cover1

— Air Raid | Buffalo (@TheBillsGuys) May 2, 2023

Another advantage of signing Ford is his size. Standing at 5’11”, 310-pounds, the 27-year old is that space eater that a lot of us were hoping the Bills would find in the draft. And now the addition of LB Dorian Williams is starting to make more sense, as Ford can take on those extra blockers to give the smaller linebackers (like Williams) cleaner lanes to penetrate the zone and stop the ball carrier.

The #Bills signing Poona Ford is quite literally HUGE.

1T or 3T? Doesn't matter for Poona. This Big Boy will soak up blockers all day and still push the pocket up the middle.

You want to go small at MLB (Dorian, Bernard, Spector)? You add Poona Ford and let your back 7 cook!

— Hänsel (@UberHansen) May 2, 2023

Although it was just a one-year deal, I feel way more confident in the current and future state of the Buffalo Bills’ defensive line now with the addition of Poona Ford.

Feature Image: Javone Moore/Seattle Seahawks