Aaron Glenn just drafted 'himself' with Indiana national champion D'Angelo Ponds

Indiana's D'Angelo Ponds (5) celebrates after the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. © Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The New York Jets made a few nice selections in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. They took David Bailey at No. 2 overall, then selected Kenyon Sadiq at No. 16 overall, and then selected Omar Cooper Jr. after a trade-up in the first round.

According to Connor Hughes of SNY, the Jets have selected Indiana cornerback D'Angelo Ponds. He's a super fun prospect who's just 5-foot-9. But, there's a more fun reason why this pick works for the Jets.

As NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah shared, "Aaron Glenn just drafted himself." How did Glenn draft "himself" with the No. 50 pick? Pond's pro comparison is Aaron Glenn, his new head coach and defensive playcaller.

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Jets draft a modern version of Aaron Glenn

Ponds is 5-foot-9, 170 pounds. He played great in 2025 for the Indiana Hoosiers, the National Champions this past college season.

Glenn, during his days in the NFL, came in at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds. He's a very similar size to Ponds, with the same height and only just 15 pounds heavier.

If there were a defensive mind to help turn Ponds into a good NFL player, then it would be Glenn and the Jets defense.

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The Jets head coach and defensive play-caller was a three-time Pro Bowler who had 41 interceptions in his NFL career.

While Ponds might have had some questions coming into the NFL with his size, the landing spot for the Indiana cornerback is about as good as it could get.

What better way to make a transition to the NFL than to go under a coach who was the same outlier size as him in the NFL, and had a very successful career?

This might be one of the most fun picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, as Glenn found a way to draft himself with the No. 50 pick by taking Ponds, the Indiana CB who is 5-foot-9.

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