Oakland Raiders: Grading Out The Team’s 2016 Draft Class

This pick is a little tougher to grade simply because Jihad Ward‘s productivity is based entirely on his potential upside. Having played just two years on the defensive line at a DI school, Ward is still learning the ins and outs of his position. But it’s the potential he flashed at Illinois that has Oakland’s coaches “salivating”

GM Reggie McKenzie has been grilled relentlessly since using his second round pick on a player who is largely untested and unproven. In an interview following the Draft, he had this to say:

"“Ward is coming from the JuCo route, but let me tell you something, you get a guy that’s over 6-5, 300 pounds and can move and play hard like he does, our defensive coaches are salivating to get their hands on him.”"

His size and athleticism are appealing. And the Raiders most definitely need to get more pressure on the quarterback from the inside of their defensive line. McKenzie has intimated that Ward might not be playing on the edge, but because of his size, be moved inside, possibly rotating with Justin Ellis and Dan Williams, creating the opportunity to help collapse the pocket on the interior of that defensive line.

McKenzie took a lot of heat a year ago when he used his second round pick on Mario Edwards Jr., with talking heads across the nation citing the many red flags about the Florida State product. Edwards has since silenced all of those critics and has proven himself of being capable – even dominant – on Oakland’s defensive line.

If McKenzie is right about Ward’s upside and he in fact, turns out to be as productive as Edwards, all is right with the world. They key word there though, is “if”. This is one we’re all going to have to wait and see how he pans out.

Grade: C

Next: Fortifying That Defensive Front