Pros and cons of the Minnesota Vikings taking LSU football's Jay Ward in 2023 NFL Draft

LSU football safety Jay Ward was selected Saturday by the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 134 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Ward, a senior from Moultrie, Georgia, had 162 total tackles and six interceptions in four seasons at LSU. He won a national championship as a freshman and was a solid presence on the Tigers' defense last year.

At 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds, Ward was a three-star recruit when he arrived at LSU.

LSU football safety Jay Ward: The positives

Ward was a versatile piece for the Tigers' defense. He began his career as a cornerback but eventually transitioned into playing more safety and slot corner.

All of that time accrued at different positions resulted in Ward playing 230 snaps in the slot, 178 snaps as an outside cornerback and 104 snaps as a free safety this past season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Ward is a physical player against the run and LSU utilized that strength this past season. Despite his thin frame, he played 108 snaps in the box this year and had 60 total tackles.

The concerns:

Ward's versatility was a strength at LSU but may not translate perfectly to the NFL.

As good a run defender as he is, his slight build will make it difficult for him to play much in the box or become a hard-hitting safety in the open field. And his middle-of-the-road skills in coverage and average athleticism would make him a liability as an outside cornerback in the NFL.

His home at the next level is likely as a slot cornerback. But even there, his good but not great quickness may not be adequate enough versus slot receivers. However, he could theoretically defend tight ends well if he adds a few more pounds to his frame.

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Final thoughts

If Ward can use his versatility as a strength and improve his coverage skills, he can be a useful player in the NFL.

Koki Riley covers LSU sports for The Daily Advertiser. Email him at kriley@theadvertiser.com and follow him on Twitter at @KokiRiley.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Minnesota Vikings pick LSU football's Jay Ward in 2023 NFL Draft