#6 Pick Option: Denzel Ward- Highlights

[ColtsBlitz]

 

A nice long, 24 minute video of highlights. Some aren’t, just throw aways, but it shows his coverage ability. My favorite was around 4:10 where Hooker gets a pick off of Wards tipped pass. 

 

Ward has great athletic ability, benching 225lbs 16 times: at 191lbs, that is 1.15x his body weight. 

He also ran a 4.39 40 yard dash and jumped 39 inches. His elite athleticism is also showcased in his footwork, fast and can stay in a backpedal to match the pace of a wide receiver for a longer time than most corners. 

 

Ward’s biggest downside is his size, 5’10 inches tall, but the way he plays you would never know it. Ward is clearly not scared to lower the shoulder:

 

There are others in the long clip above, but man, at 191, he has a lot of strength to level guys the way he does, and you normally do not see this from an outside corner. 

 

Can park in a deep squat under wide receiver's chin at the line. Patient from press showing no panic or hurry in initial movements.

This is from his draft profile on nfl.com. He will probably need to improve upon his press, but that is on the coaching. 

 

Should Ballard take him?

 

To me, if the Big 3 of Barkley, Chubb, and Nelson are all gone, it’s a toss up between some players. There’s:

 

Roquan Smith

Denzel Ward

Tremaine Edmunds

Minkah Fitzpatrick

Vita Vea (places last of these, projected later in early teens)

 

It’s hard; no doubt. The Ballard Board will most-likely determine who we take. 

 

Thoughts on Ward being the #6 overall selection?

[Indy Fan]

How is he in press with bigger wideouts? He will need to be very effective at jamming the receiver at the line in order to give the safeties some help. Although we could still trade out of the spot since one of the top four quarterbacks would be available. Edmunds and Smith are intriguing and vital to a Tampa 2 defense.

[ColtsBlitz]

6 minutes ago, Indy Fan said:

How is he in press with bigger wideouts? He will need to be very effective at jamming the receiver at the line in order to give the safeties some help. Although we could still trade out of the spot since one of the top four quarterbacks would be available. Edmunds and Smith are intriguing and vital to a Tampa 2 defense.

“Can park in a deep squat under wide receiver's chin at the line. Patient from press showing no panic or hurry in initial movements.”

-pasted from draft profile, nfl.com

 

Not bad according to this. I think he did it quite frequently at Ohio State.