Jay Ward 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Background: 

• A former cornerback converted to safety 

System: 

• Scheme tendencies: Scheme versatile
• 2022 projected role: Safety

Pros: Jay Ward is a former physical cornerback that has appeared to make the transition to safety seamlessly. Ward shows to be an instinctive player in the run game in how he can trigger downhill and meet the ball carrier with full-speed collisions. Ward does a  good job of attacking downhill with good angles to make him a  good tackler. In pass coverage, Ward also shows the ability play both zone and man. In zone, Ward shows a good job of reading the quarterback’s eyes and flowing to the receiver to potentially break up a pass. He also shows that he can play man against some receivers in certain situations. 

Cons: While Jay Ward being a former corner assists him in certain aspects of the game, it hinders him in others. Since Ward has made the transition to safety, he has been banged up a good bit with injuries that come from the high-speed collisions involved with playing the position. Ward is a lean defender that does not appear to have much body mass, so when he tackles he has to use all of his body weight to secure the tackle. Ward may benefit from changing up his tackling style to help preserve his body for the duration of the season. Ward shows that he is a productive player on the field, but he needs to prove that his frame can hold throughout the duration of the season.

Jay Ward NFL Draft Scouting Report by Keith Sanchez