With the 50th pick in the 2026 NFL draft, the New York Jets selected Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, who is often dubbed “Aaron Glenn Jr.”
While Ponds played the vast majority of his snaps at boundary corner in college, Glenn told reporters that the team plans to “cross-train” him both in the slot and outside.
In his rookie season, though, where does Glenn’s Jets need him most?
How should the Jets deploy Ponds in 2026?
Standing at 5-foot-8 and 182 pounds with 29⅜-inch arms, Ponds’ small frame is the main reason some teams viewed Ponds as a prime candidate to move inside and play slot corner full-time.
At that height, it can be difficult to hold your own against taller receivers on the outside, especially in contested situations. However, Ponds makes up for his size disadvantage with an elite 43.5-inch vertical.
Here is a look at the Jets’ current depth chart at cornerback.
- Brandon Stephens (BCB)
- Azareye’h Thomas (BCB)
- Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (SCB)
- D’Angelo Ponds (SCB, BCB)
- Nahshon Wright (BCB)
- Qwan’tez Stiggers (BCB)
- Jordan Clark (SCB)
- Tre Brown (BCB)
- Samuel Womack III (SCB)
- Mory Bamba (BCB)
Looking at that group, it is easy to see why the Jets felt the need to add a cornerback within the draft’s top 50 picks.
While Stephens showed flashes in spurts last season, the best way to describe his 2025 campaign would be tumultuous, which resulted in an 8:0 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Azareye’h Thomas displayed promise throughout his rookie season, and the hope is that he and Ponds can be the team’s long-term CB duo. Beyond Thomas on the outside is Nahshon Wright, who is known for his outstanding ball skills, but he often struggles in coverage.
Filling out the back end of the depth chart are players like Qwan’tez Stiggers, Tre Brown, and Mory Bamba, none of whom have proven they are NFL-level cornerbacks.
In terms of slot specialists, the Jets currently roster Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Samuel Womack III, Jordan Clark, and now Ponds, thanks to his versatility.
Brownlee Jr. is a strong run defender, but he often gets handsy in coverage, leading to a flurry of penalties. In 2025, he committed a team-high nine penalties, the same amount as in his 2024 rookie season.
Similar to the back end of the cornerback room, Womack III and Clark haven’t yet shown that they are rosterable defenders.
While Malachi Moore and Minkah Fitzpatrick are each more than capable of playing in the slot, the Jets are best off leaving Moore at strong safety and Fitzpatrick at free safety.
It begs the question: Where is Ponds needed more?
The clear answer is slot cornerback. On the boundary, the Jets have multiple players who are capable of starting.
If Thomas takes a second-year leap, he can easily position himself to be the team’s CB1 for the 2027 season. Stephens is a serviceable starter. Wright is one of the best ball-hawking CBs in the league, posting five interceptions in 2025, the most by any cornerback.
In the slot, there isn’t much to be excited about. Brownlee, a 2024 seventh-round pick, mostly struggled during his brief stint with the Jets after being acquired in a trade, save for some flashes against the run. After that, the Jets do not have any players who should be viewed as potentially reliable.
Ponds can be the solution to this problem. He has a clear path to emerge as the team’s starting slot corner heading into Week 1, giving him a chance to play a primary role right off the bat.
Ultimately, the beauty of the selection is that Ponds brings the versatility to play both in the slot and on the outside, which means the Jets can move him around depending on where they feel he fits best.
