Brian Flores has his fingerprints all over Vikings draft pick
The Minnesota Vikings add another player capable of making an instant impact in fourth-round safety Jay Ward out of LSU. Ward is a versatile safety with the ability to play at the nickel position. He’s a player that can go from 0-60 in a heartbeat and brings a play style that will mesh well in […]
The Minnesota Vikings add another player capable of making an instant impact in fourth-round safety Jay Ward out of LSU.
Ward is a versatile safety with the ability to play at the nickel position. He’s a player that can go from 0-60 in a heartbeat and brings a play style that will mesh well in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ scheme.
While Ward can certainly hold his own in coverage, he is a hard-nosed defensive back who doesn’t shy away from contact. He’s a downhill defensive back who can come up to the line of scrimmage and make a play. Ward is effective as a blitzer as well, which is a calling card in Flores’ secondaries.
His ball skills are off the charts as displayed by his six interceptions over the last three seasons at LSU. He finished the 2022 season with 60 tackles including 2.5 TFLs and one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.
This is clearly a Flores pick for Minnesota who is doing well to address their deficiencies in the secondary. Ward joins CB Mekhi Blackmon as the second defensive back taken by Minnesota and is reunited with LSU teammate DT Jaquelin Roy who the Vikings selected in the fifth round.
