It’s hard to argue with the Jets’ decision to pick cornerback D’Angelo Ponds in the second round with the 50th pick overall.
Some have argued that if Ponds wasn’t under 5-9, he could have gone in the first round.
Perhaps he won’t be able to stay outside on the NFL level due to his size, but he could be an outstanding nickel back on the pro level.
Aside from his excellent cover skills and change-of-direction ability, something else that makes him an outstanding nickel candidate is his tackling ability. Playing slot cornerback comes with a lot of run support responsibilities, and Ponds is a very good tackler.
Like QB Fernando Mendoza (Las Vegas Raiders) and WR Omar Cooper (Jets), Ponds is another player whose development was certainly helped by playing under Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, a great program builder and player development coach.
And Ponds had him at two schools – first James Madison and then Indiana.
Ponds was an under-the-radar recruit out of South Florida, recruited by mainly Sun Belt Conference schools.
And being overlooked coming out, and also being under 5-9, and having people constantly doubting him, he certainly plays with a major chip on his shoulder, in a good way.
But keep in mind, he’s not a small corner. He is a shorter corner, but not a small corner, at a thickly built 182 pounds. There is a difference.
A lot of people are making an Aaron Glenn player comp with Ponds, but I actually see more of a comp to Glenn’s teammate, Ray Mickens, a very good nickel back for the Jets from 1996-2004.
And it was smart for the Jets to add another nickel back in this draft because while Jarvis Brownlee flashed a little in the slot last year, he’s had a hard time staying healthy in the NFL, first with the Tennessee Titans, and then with the Jets, due to his absolutely fearless playing style.
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