Jihad Ward was drafted No. 44 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Illinois College. 136 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 25 career approximate value
2016 NFL Draft · Rd 2, Pick 13 · #44 overall
Jihad Ward Illinois College Draft
Jihad Ward was drafted No. 44 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Illinois College. 136 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 25 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #44
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 2016
- NFL games
- 136
- Years as starter
- 4
- Career AV
- 2526th at Illinois College
The pick
How Jihad Ward came off the board in 2016.
- Position
- Defensive end DE
- Measurables
- 6'5" · 297 lbs
- Hometown
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pre-draft board
- No. 55 prospect81.0 grade
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
136 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 25 career approximate value
- Games played
- 136
- Seasons as a starter
- 4
- Career approximate value
- 2526th among Illinois College picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 624% of career value
- Final season
- 20259 years after the draft
Around pick 44
Who came off the board on either side of Jihad Ward.
Boise State
Penn State
Alabama · 1× All-Pro · 5× Pro Bowl
Illinois College in the 2016 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DE picks from Illinois College
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Illinois College · 1× All-Pro · 3× Pro Bowl
#26
Whitney Mercilus
DE · HOU · 2012
Illinois College
#68
Dawuane Smoot
DE · JAX · 2017
Illinois College
#82
Mike Piel
DE · LAR · 1988
Illinois College
#152
Mel Agee
DE · IND · 1991
Illinois College
#204
Will Davis
DE · ARI · 2009
Illinois College
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Jihad Ward in the 2016 NFL Draft
Jihad Ward is a Defensive end out of Illinois College selected No. 44 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2016 NFL Draft. 136 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 25 career approximate value Illinois College has produced 120 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.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Jihad Ward drafted?
Jihad Ward was selected No. 44 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2016 NFL Draft (Rd 2, Pick 13). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2016/jihad-ward.
What college did Jihad Ward play for?
Jihad Ward played college football at Illinois College in the Big Ten. See every Illinois College draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/illinois-college-blueboys.
How did Jihad Ward's NFL career turn out?
136 regular-season games · 4 seasons as a starter · 25 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2016/jihad-ward.