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2006 NFL Draft · Rd 5, Pick 2 · #135 overall

Rob Ninkovich Purdue Draft

Rob Ninkovich was drafted No. 135 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2006 NFL Draft out of Purdue. 131 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 51 career approximate value

Overall pick
#135
Round
5
Draft class
2006
NFL games
131
Years as starter
7
Career AV
5110th at Purdue

The pick

How Rob Ninkovich came off the board in 2006.

Drafted by

New Orleans Saints

Rd 5, Pick 2 · #135 overall · NFC South

Full 2006 draft class (255 picks)
Position
Defensive end DE
College
Purdue Big Ten at the draft
Measurables
6'3" · 260 lbs
Pre-draft board
54.0 grade
Side of the ball
Defense

NFL career

131 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 51 career approximate value

Games played
131
Seasons as a starter
7
Career approximate value
5110th among Purdue picks
Final season
201610 years after the draft

Around pick 135

Who came off the board on either side of Rob Ninkovich.

#133 Orien Harris DT · PIT Miami #134 Kyle Williams DT · BUF LSU · 6× Pro Bowl #136 Ryan O'Callaghan T · NE California #137 Terna Nande LB · TEN Miami (OH)

Purdue in the 2006 draft

Teammates who went in the same class.

#54 Bernard Pollard DB · KC Purdue · 1× Pro Bowl #127 Ray Edwards DE · MIN Purdue #167 Charles Davis TE · PIT Purdue

Other DE picks from Purdue

The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.

#16 Ryan Kerrigan DE · WAS · 2011 Purdue · 4× Pro Bowl #98 Shaun Phillips DE · LAC · 2004 Purdue · 1× Pro Bowl #26 Anthony Spencer DE · DAL · 2007 Purdue · 1× Pro Bowl #89 Chike Okeafor DE · SF · 1999 Purdue #127 Ray Edwards DE · MIN Purdue #30 George Karlaftis III DE · KC · 2022 Purdue

About this draft profile

Last updated Aug 24, 2026

Rob Ninkovich in the 2006 NFL Draft

Rob Ninkovich is a Defensive end out of Purdue selected No. 135 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2006 NFL Draft. 131 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 51 career approximate value Purdue has produced 100 NFL draft picks since 1980.

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.

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

Where was Rob Ninkovich drafted?

Rob Ninkovich was selected No. 135 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2006 NFL Draft (Rd 5, Pick 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2006/rob-ninkovich.

What college did Rob Ninkovich play for?

Rob Ninkovich played college football at Purdue in the Big Ten. See every Purdue draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/purdue-boilermakers.

How did Rob Ninkovich's NFL career turn out?

131 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 51 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2006/rob-ninkovich.