Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.
As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.
Background
Name: Jay Ward
Rank: 46
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 180 lbs
Experience: Rookie
College: LSU
Stats (At LSU): 37 games, 162 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 6 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, 2 forced fumbles, 2 touchdowns
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 45
Kevin Fielder: 45
Judd Zulgad: 44
Saivion Mixon: 45
Average: 44.75
Best case scenario
Ward is a diverse weapon on the back end of the defense. He has more than 150 snaps at outside cornerback, STAR (slot corner), box safety and deep safety. He can play everywhere and that is exactly what Brian Flores needs. Ward can earn himself upwards of 500 snaps in 2023 as a rookie with his versatile skill set and an excellent training camp.
Worst case scenario
Not only is Ward a fourth-round pick, he isn’t the biggest guy. At only 180 lbs, he can get washed out in the running game. Along with that, Ward has too many missed tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, Ward missed 14 tackles in 2022 resulting in a staggering 20.9% missed tackle percentage. In a defense that prioritizes winning one-on-one matchups in space, that could keep Ward off the field for a while.
What to expect in 2023
Being a fourth-round pick isn’t going to mean much if Ward plays well. Flores is going to play the best guys and put players in a position to succeed, something that Ed Donatell didn’t do last year. Mekhi Blackmon is already getting first-team reps in minicamp and Ward could earn similar snaps during training camp early on. Watch for him to earn a snap share of around 20% to start the season with a potential to earn more as the season goes on.
Previous player profiles
90-Garrett Maag
89-Jack Podlesny
88-Zach Ojile
87-Najee Thompson
86-Thayer Thomas
85-Sam Schluter
84-Jaelyn Williams
83-Jacky Chen
82-Cephus Johnson III
81-CJ Coldon Jr.
80-Junior Aho
79-Malik Knowles
78-Abraham Beauplan
77-Wilson Huber
76-Lucky Jackson
75-Andre Carter II
74-Curtis Weaver
73-TJ Smith
72-Alan Ali
71-Josh Sokol
70-Blake Proehl
69-John Reid
68-Trishton Jackson
67-Kalon Barnes
66-Benton Whitley
65-Calvin Avery
64-Theo Jackson
63-William Kwenkeu
62-Sheldon Day
61-Tay Gowan
60-Ross Blacklock
59-Vederian Lowe
58-Jaren Hall
57-Nick Muse
56-Ivan Pace, Jr
55-Jalen Reagor
54-Luigi Vilain
53-Austin Schlottmann
52-Troy Dye
51-Olisaemeka Udoh
50-Nick Mullens
49-Kene Nwangwu
48-DeWayne McBride
47-Jaqueline Roy
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Story originally appeared on Vikings Wire