
#24 S · Minnesota Vikings
Height
6'1"
Weight
188 lbs
Age
25
College
LSU
Draft
2023, Rd 4, #134
Experience
3 yrs
S Rank
#194 / 197
Grade this player:
| Year | Team | GP | INT | PD | Tkl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | ![]() | 50 | — | 1 | 41 |
| 2025 | ![]() | 17 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| 2024 | ![]() | 16 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 2023 | ![]() | 17 |
Length
4 years
Total Value
$4.5M
Guaranteed
$654K
AAV
$1.1M/yr
Jay Ward's four-year, $4.5M extension with Minnesota represents a fair deal for an unproven safety, earning a solid C CVI that reflects appropriate market positioning for a developmental player. At $1.1M annually, the Vikings are paying replacement-level money for a player who hasn't yet established himself as more than a depth piece, which creates reasonable upside without significant downside risk. The contract structure heavily favors Minnesota with just $700K guaranteed out of the total deal, giving the organization multiple exit ramps if Ward doesn't develop into the contributor they're hoping for. Ward's unproven status means this is essentially a bet on potential rather than established production, but the financial commitment aligns with that reality — this isn't franchise-altering money for a safety position where teams can find adequate contributors throughout the draft and free agency. The Vikings get cost control on a young player with developmental upside, while Ward secures four years of job security in a league where most players his caliber are fighting for roster spots annually.
Jay Ward receives an F grade as a Vikings defensive back who has been a consistent presence on special teams without making any impact on defense. His 41 tackles across 50 games over three full 16-17 game seasons shows he is valued enough to be active every week, but the zero interceptions, zero passes defended of note, and zero sacks tell the story of a player with no defensive impact. Ward has played on all three of Minnesota's special teams units, which is why he keeps getting dressed on gameday. The F grade accurately reflects his defensive contributions, which have been essentially nonexistent despite the extensive playing time on special teams.
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Recent seasons are weighted more heavily in the overall performance grade.
F
2025
(50% weight)
F
2024
(30% weight)
F
2023
(20% weight)