D'Angelo Ponds is the New York Jets' second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The article provides a comprehensive profile on his skills and potential impact on the team.
(Robert Goddin - Imagn Images)
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(Robert Goddin - Imagn Images)
With the No. 50 overall pick in the second round after a trade with the Detroit Lions, who moved up to New York's No. 44 slot, the Jets added a fascinating secondary prospect by selecting Indiana cornerback D'Angelo Ponds...
Height: 5-foot-8
Weight: 182 pounds
: 43.5 inches
61 tackles (four for loss), two interceptions (12 pass breakups) and one forced fumble in 15 games
D'Angelo Ponds plays as a wide receiver for the New York Jets.
D'Angelo Ponds is known for his speed, route-running ability, and strong hands.
D'Angelo Ponds was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
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NFL.com: Ponds is a productive perimeter cornerback trapped in a smaller body, but he’s not lacking in confidence or coverage tenacity. He’s tremendously competitive and winning seems to follow him at each stop. He matches press releases with good slide quickness and has the speed to stay in-phase as routes travel vertically. Eye discipline, instincts and trigger quickness fuel his zone work and catch disruption. Size limitations will likely push him to nickelback, where mismatches against bigger bodies and physical challenges from run games will test his playmaking/durability. Ponds is a likely Day 2 pick who will be an above-average starting nickelback in the NFL.
Bleacher Report: D'Angelo Ponds is the type of competitive, athletic and playmaking cornerback that coaches want in their secondary. He plays bigger than his size and doesn't back down to any receiver. With great footwork, feel for space and timing, Ponds continuously makes plays on the football and frustrates receivers with his closing speed and attention to detail.
Coach Aaron Glenn's defense needs young talent after trading defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner before this past season's NFL trade deadline. Enter edge rusher David Bailey (No. 2 overall) and now in the second round, Ponds, who never shied away from competing with elite wide receivers while leading Indiana to its historic College Football Playoff National Championship.
In the second round, Aaron Glenn chose to draft a player most people compare to ... Aaron Glenn. A 5-foot-8, 180-pound corner who's known for his feisty, ultra-competitive nature and physical playstyle.
Talent-wise, Ponds has top-15 ability. His height simply scared teams off. Glenn, 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds himself, isn't concerned with any of that. Ponds joins a secondary that includes AZ Thomas, Brandon Stephens and Jarvis Brownlee.