Jets land CB with striking comp to head coach Aaron Glenn

Sometimes the best comparisons don’t just describe a player. They explain a fit. That’s exactly what happened when NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah evaluated New York Jets cornerback D'Angelo Ponds, the team's second-round pick at the 2026 NFL Draft.

Instead of pointing to a current NFL star or a trendy comp, the draft insider reached for something closer to home. He compared the Jets’ newest defender to his own head coach, Aaron Glenn.

You can't make this stuff up, but that's not a coincidence. That’s alignment.

A reflection of the Jets' head coach on the field.

The Jets didn’t just draft a corner. They drafted a mindset that already exists inside their building. Glenn made his name as a tough, instinctive defensive back who played bigger than his size and embraced the physical nature of the position. Those same traits show up on Ponds’ tape.

Ponds stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 173 pounds. Ponds isn’t going to intimidate anyone simply by walking off the bus. That’s never been his game. Instead, he wins with technique, anticipation, and a willingness to compete in every phase of the position.

Ponds is comfortable in coverage and aggressive at the catch point. He's more than willing to stick his nose into a tackle. If that sounds familiar, it's because it should.

The comparison also helps explain why this pick makes so much sense beyond the surface. Coaches often talk about wanting “their type” of players, but it’s rare to find such a direct reflection of that philosophy. Ponds doesn’t need to learn what Glenn expects from the position. He already plays that way.

That doesn’t guarantee success, of course. Translations from college to the NFL are never automatic, and Ponds will still need to prove he can hold up physically and consistently at the next level. Still, the blueprint is there.

If Jeremiah’s comparison proves accurate, the Jets didn’t just add depth to their secondary. They added a player who mirrors the identity of the man leading it, and that’s where this selection becomes far more interesting than it first appeared.

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets land CB with striking comp to head coach Aaron Glenn