The Most Pleasant Vikings Surprise on Defense
The Minnesota Vikings’ defense ranks 18th in the NFL through two weeks per DVOA, mainly because Atlanta Falcons Bijan Robinson ruined everything in Week 2.
The Vikings don’t have too many positives to mention after Week 2, but one man has stood off the page on defense rather unexpectedly.
The unit will hope to rebound this weekend against the Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals, and Minnesota is favored to prevail by two or three points.
And through two games, one unsung defender has turned heads: safety Jay Ward
An Unexpected Perk for the Vikings’ Defense?Jay Ward.
Ward is quietly doing the thing in Minnesota.
Jay Ward Has Turned Heads thru 2 Games
With Harrison Smith out due to a mysterious personal health ailment, defensive coordinator Brian Flores has asked other players to step up.
Ward responded.
Through two games, the under-the-radar defender has posted a 76.0 Pro Football Focus grade, which is the best among all Vikings defensive players, if that can be believed. His pass coverage is also impressive, checking in at 71.4 from PFF.
Ward has played 41 defensive snaps against the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons, so it’s not like he saw action on one drive and called it good. He’s served as a steady contributor out of the gate.
In fact, with scores in the 70s from PFF, he’s basically Harrison Smith.
This Would Be the Appropriate Time for a Breakout
As recently as this summer, Ward lived on the team’s roster bubble, or some thought.
The 2025 campaign is Year No. 3 for Ward, and lo and behold, he is making the most of his development. Now is the perfect time for Ward to stand out. Some players don’t set the world on fire as first- or second-year NFLers, and it seems Ward may be turning the corner in 2025.
For two weeks, Ward has made the most of the “next man up” policy, as Smith’s absence has allowed him to blossom a bit.
Ward’s Role when Harrison Smith Returns
Unfortunately for Ward, his snap count is likely to reduce when Smith returns, which could be as early as this Sunday. Smith is, of course, an unadulterated Vikings starter, and no one is taking his job except for eventual retirement.
So, while Ward has made the most of his opportunity, there may not be too much room for him in each game upon Smith’s return. Even if Minnesota plays big nickel on defense, cornerback Jeff Okudah should be back in the lineup this Sunday or next after a concussion recovery, further cutting into Ward’s workload.
An Audition for 2026
On the other hand, Smith won’t play forever. Some were surprised that Smith came back for Year No. 14 this season.
There’s a world where Smith retires in four months, and Minnesota would look around, searching for a safety. Ward’s two-game sample is a perfect audition for life after Smith.
Otherwise, in addition to Josh Metellus and Theo Jackson at safety, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would consult free agency or the draft for a Smith replacement. There’s a chance that Ward continues to excel this season, nominating himself as part of the eventual Smith replacement plan.
More Perspective on Ward
Our Kyle Joudry wrote about Ward before Week 1: “The first and most obvious move when Flores opts to deploy nickel personnel is to insert a trio of corners — Bryon Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and Jeff Okudah — rather than the big nickel look, one that leans on a trio of safeties. Is that the simple solution? If so, then that does tell us something.”
“Full trust in Ward would mean continuing to lean on the three-safety look, one that allows Flores to balance run defense and pass coverage. Opting instead for a disproportionate reliance on a trio of corners would be a hit to the future outlook for Ward since there would be a suggestion that the third-year safety isn’t a plug-and-play replacement. And then there’s the reality that would hit especially hard if Flores does lean on a trio of safeties. As Eckardt mentions, there’s the possibility of Tavierre Thomas. The veteran has his appeal.”
Ward is under contract in Minnesota through the end of 2026.
Joudry added, “Do note, though, that we’re considering a journeyman who is now on his fifth NFL team and who is playing on a single-season, $2 million deal. Nothing to scoff at, but not the second coming of Paul Krause. If, in the end, Jay Ward proves to be a special teams player and nothing more, then that’s fine. Drafting a defensive back on Day 3 often leads to being a backup on defense and a stalwart on specials. That singular outcome isn’t any reason to get too worked up.”
“Finally, there’s Mr. Ward. Still under contract for two more seasons, Ward could yet have some ability in his game. Seeing him minimized rather than showcased when the safety room is suddenly thin will tell us a lot about the way things are trending.”
Ward is the NFL’s 17th-best safety after two weeks, per PFF.
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