Jets Sign Round 2 CB D’Angelo Ponds
One of the Jets’ three first-round picks has signed his rookie contract to date, while some of the team’s Day 3 selections are on the books as well. New York has inked its only Day 2 pick as well.
Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds has agreed to terms on his initial NFL deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. The four-year pact is worth $9.84MM. As Schefter adds, Ponds secured $8.95MM in guarantees. The matter of locked-in money for second-round picks was a significant storyline last year, and that is likely to remain the case in 2026.
Ponds began his college career at James Madison, spending one year there. He was among the players who followed head coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana ahead of the 2024 season. A full-time starting role awaited him upon arrival, and Ponds was a productive member of the Hoosiers’ defense. Ponds racked up five interceptions and 21 pass deflections during his Indiana tenure.
That production helped him earn first-team All-Big Ten honors along with a second-team All-American nod in 2024 and ’25. Size was no doubt a concern for some NFL evaluators, but the 5-8, 180-pound Ponds was still viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in this year’s class. It thus came as no surprise when the Jets selected him 50th overall. Ponds will be tasked with handling slot duties at the pro level after working on the perimeter in college.
The Jets ranked 17th against the pass in 2025, head coach Aaron Glenn‘s first year as head coach. The former NFL defensive back will take on a larger role leading New York’s defense this season after the unit struggled in several other areas. A strong rookie campaign from Ponds would help bring about needed improvements this season and help him establish himself as core figure in the secondary.
The Jets also announced on Friday that guard Anez Cooper has inked his rookie deal. The sixth-rounder is thus on the books in time for rookie minicamp. Five members of the Jets’ draft class have now been signed, leaving three more to go.
Cowboys Host Trio Of CBs For Pre-Draft Visits
The Cowboys seem to be interested in adding a cornerback with one of their premium picks in April’s draft. They recently hosted Colton Hood for a “30” visit, per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News, with his Tennessee teammate Jermod McCoy and Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds on tap for next week (via ESPN’s Todd Archer).
Dallas’ pass defense was one of the worst in the league last year, due in no small part to issues and injuries at cornerback. Trevon Diggs and Caelen Carson both missed significant time, as did 2025 third-round pick Shavon Revel as he recovered from the previous year’s ACL tear. Even when the unit was healthy, they struggled to slow opponents through the air.
The unit was reinforced this offseason with the signing of former Rams Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick, but only the former brings significant starting experience to pair with DaRon Bland. The Cowboys could certainly stand to add some young, long-term talent to their secondary.
McCoy is the highest-ranked cornerback out of the three visiting Dallas. He turned heads with a dazzling 2024 season, in which he had more interceptions (four) than touchdowns allowed (two) with a 53.6 opposing passer rating when targeted, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). A torn ACL sidelined him for all of 2025, but he recovered in time to run a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, assuaging any concerns about his health and vaulting him into co-CB1 status with LSU’s Mansoor Delane. McCoy may not even get to the Cowboys at No. 12, but he would be an easy pick if he does.
If neither McCoy nor Delane are available when Dallas is on the clock for their first pick, they will likely target a different position and see who is available at No. 20, their second first-rounder. That could be a spot for Hood, who is currently seen as a borderline Round 1 prospect. He tested well at the Combine, but 2025 was his only full season as a starter and he was not as dominant as McCoy was the previous year. Most evaluators do not have him graded as a first-round prospect, but it only takes one team with a higher assessment to pull the trigger.
Ponds is more securely seen as a Day 2 prospect, though an elite showing at his pro day will likely keep him in the second rather than the third round. That will make it difficult for the Cowboys to land the small, speedy corner with the 92nd overall selection in the third round. If Ponds were to fall that far, it would be an easy decision for a sticky, physical corner with inside-outside versatility who just played a key role on the Hoosiers’ championship defense.