Dedric Ward was drafted No. 88 overall by the New York Jets in the 1997 NFL Draft out of Northern Iowa. 103 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 20 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #88
- Round
- 3
- Draft class
- 1997
- NFL games
- 103
- Years as starter
- 1
- Career AV
- 207th at Northern Iowa
The pick
How Dedric Ward came off the board in 1997.
- Position
- Wide receiver WR
- College
-
Northern Iowa
MVFC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
103 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 20 career approximate value
- Games played
- 103
- Seasons as a starter
- 1
- Career approximate value
- 207th among Northern Iowa picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1680% of career value
- Final season
- 20047 years after the draft
Around pick 88
Who came off the board on either side of Dedric Ward.
Notre Dame · 1× Pro Bowl
Texas
Penn State
Other WR picks from Northern Iowa
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Dedric Ward in the 1997 NFL Draft
Dedric Ward is a Wide receiver out of Northern Iowa selected No. 88 overall by the New York Jets in the 1997 NFL Draft. 103 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 20 career approximate value Northern Iowa has produced 18 NFL draft picks since 1982.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Dedric Ward drafted?
Dedric Ward was selected No. 88 overall by the New York Jets in the 1997 NFL Draft (Rd 3). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/dedric-ward.
What college did Dedric Ward play for?
Dedric Ward played college football at Northern Iowa in the MVFC. See every Northern Iowa draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/northern-iowa-panthers.
How did Dedric Ward's NFL career turn out?
103 regular-season games · 1 seasons as a starter · 20 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1997/dedric-ward.