Jets' early return on Quinnen Williams trade now rests on D'Angelo Ponds' shoulders

The early return on the New York Jets’ blockbuster Quinnen Williams trade is already looking pretty promising after the team's second-round pick in this year's 2026 NFL Draft.

After entering Day 2 of the draft armed with the No. 44 overall pick acquired from the Dallas Cowboys in last year’s deadline deal, the Jets moved back six spots in a trade with the Detroit Lions. In the process, the Jets added another fourth-round pick at No. 128 and still landed Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds at No. 50 overall.

That makes Ponds the first real on-field piece tied directly to the Williams trade package. The Jets also received defensive tackle Mazi Smith in the deal, but he has yet to make much of an impact (and likely won't moving forward), while the 2027 first-round pick remains a future asset.

For now, Ponds becomes the clearest early measuring stick for how the trade will be judged. And if the early reaction is any indication, Jets fans may have reason to be excited.

D'Angelo Ponds will quickly become a Jets fan favorite

Ponds feels like the exact type of player Jets fans are going to love almost immediately. At 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, his size will be the first thing critics point to. Some will see the measurements alone and wonder how a cornerback that small can survive in the NFL.

But anyone who turns on the tape quickly sees why the Jets were comfortable making the bet. If Ponds were a few inches taller, he likely would have been long gone in the first round.

What makes him so appealing is that the supposed weaknesses tied to his size were actually strengths of his game in college.

You would expect a smaller corner to struggle as a tackler. Ponds had just two missed tackles all last season, which was good for a remarkable 3.0 percent missed tackle rate. You might expect him to struggle against bigger receivers and draw flags trying to compensate. He committed only one penalty all year.

Ponds proved it against top competition as well, helping Indiana navigate a Big Ten schedule and capture a national championship. He has already shown he can play winning football against high-level athletes.

NFL fans love competitors. They love defenders who play bigger than they are. They love underdogs with swagger. Ponds checks every box.

And if he becomes the player many believe he can be, the early return on the Quinnen Williams trade is going to look very strong.

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