The first round surprisingly went without former Indiana Hoosiers cornerback D’Angelo Ponds hearing his name called. It did not take too long for Ponds to hear his name called in round two. Ponds was selected by the New York Jets with the 18th pick of the second round. He is the third Hoosier selected in the 2026 NFL Draft and joins fellow Hoosier Omar Cooper in New York.
What the Jets are Getting?
The Jets will be getting one of the most athletic, competitive players in the draft. He only fell to the second round because of his perceived lack of height. He has made the biggest plays in the biggest spots for IU.
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. _ Lance Zierlein
What is Ponds’ 2026 Outlook?
Ponds should fit in right away as a slot corner. He can also be used on special teams as a cover man or as a returner. Ponds will not shy away from the spotlight in New York and gives head coach Aaron Glenn a certified weapon on defense. The Jets did not have an interception last season, that should change with Ponds.