Parker Ferguson was emotionally immersed in last week’s National Football League draft, monitoring each team’s selection and how it could potentially shape his future.
Three days, seven rounds and 259 selections later, Ferguson’s name hadn’t been called.
Not surprisingly, Ferguson, a 2017 Center Grove graduate who spent the last four years playing wherever he was needed on the offensive line at Air Force, signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets.
“I watched it closely. There were six teams I had been in contact with, so I was tracking who they were taking,” said the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Ferguson, who had been in touch with the Jets, Philadelphia, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay, Denver and Miami.
“I had no reasonable expectation of being drafted the first or second day. The third day, my phone started to heat up. Obviously, you want to be drafted, but right after the draft there were four teams that reached out.”
Ferguson, who played left tackle this past season at Air Force and was named All-Mountain West Conference, actually views center and guard as the positions he’s most comfortable playing. His versatility in the trenches could make Ferguson a more valued commodity on an NFL roster, be it with the Jets or somewhere else.
The Broncos, Chargers and Jets made offers to Ferguson with the latter being the most appealing financially. Furthermore, Ferguson saw himself as a better fit with what new Jets head coach Robert Saleh is attempting to build in the Big Apple.
“It eventually came down to the Jets and Broncos, but the Jets made the most sense,” said Ferguson, a starter in 28 games during his college career. “I’m excited about the culture there with a whole new coaching staff and am excited about New York City. My agent, Alan Herman, is headquartered in Manhattan.”
Ferguson signed with Herman on Dec. 20, the day after the Falcons lost, 10-7, to Army in nearby West Point, New York.
In January, Ferguson played in the Hula Bowl in Honolulu along with another former Center Grove standout, former Indiana defensive lineman Jovan Swann, who has a minicamp tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers from May 14-16.
Ferguson participated in Air Force’s pro day in March, showing off a 31-inch vertical leap and a 5.19-second time in the 40-yard dash while bench-pressing 225 pounds 24 times.
On Wednesday, Ferguson flew to New York to be part of the Jets’ rookie minicamp in Florham Park, New Jersey, which lasts through this weekend. He returns for optional team activities on May 17 before flying back to Colorado Springs to take part in commencement at the Air Force Academy on May 26.
The objective is for Ferguson to be part of the Jets organization for years to come. Should Ferguson not land a roster spot with an NFL team, he’ll begin his five-year military commitment as a second lieutenant and a space operator at Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, California.
New York drafted 10 players, but only one offensive lineman — former USC guard Alijah Vera-Tucker with the 14th pick overall. That would seem to be in Ferguson’s favor.
“As a kid, I thought maybe playing in the NFL would be fun, but it really wasn’t something I put thought into until about a year ago,” Ferguson said. “The Jets signed me in order to help the team win games. They gave me a good signing bonus and an opportunity to make the team.”
