Giants 2024 UFA Primer: OLB Jihad Ward

Is this the year the Giants move on from Jihad Ward?

Jihad Ward, OLB

Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 285 lbs.
Age: 29
NFL Exp.: 8 seasons
College: Illinois

Outside linebacker Jihad Ward signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants on March 29, 2023, marking his second season with the team. Following a solid performance in 2022, Ward did not live up to the same expectations and standards he set for himself a season ago.

After being selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Ward showed early flashes of his potential. In 16 games (13 started), Ward had 30 combined tackles (16 solo), 10 quarterback hits, and a fumble recovery.

Despite producing well as a rookie, Ward’s next two seasons were hindered by injury setbacks. In his second year with the Raiders, Ward suffered a left foot injury in the offseason, which required surgery. Though Ward returned to the team before the start of the season, his nagging foot injury still limited him to just five games.

In 2018, the Raiders traded Ward to the Cowboys, who cut him before the start of the regular season. However, soon after signing with the Colts, Ward secured three sacks in six games before he sustained a season-ending ankle injury.

Though Ward returned with the Colts in 2019, he was later traded that season to the Baltimore Ravens, where he became a favorite of then-defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. This marked a turnaround point in Ward’s career, setting him up for two big seasons in 2021 with the Jacksonville Jaguars and 2022 with the Giants.

In 2021, Ward finished with 32 combined tackles, 12 pressures, and two sacks in 457 total defensive snaps. But it wasn’t until 2022 that Ward reunited with Martindale and hit his stride. In 17 games played (11 started), Ward posted career highs in combined tackles (43) and solo (28), pressures (15), quarterback hits (13), passes defended (4) and forced fumbles (2) to go along with three sacks.

Ward re-signed with the Giants on a similar one-year deal, but only this time, didn’t quite replicate the same numbers and production as the Giants had hoped for.

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2023 Recap

The Giants similarly deployed Ward throughout 2023, logging in 661 total defensive snaps this season (he had 657 in 2022). Despite receiving a near-identical workload from season to season, Ward didn’t produce the same numbers across the board that the Giants had witnessed from him in 2022.

In 17 games played (9 starts), Ward came away with a new career high in sacks (5) and did match his career high in pressures (15), but only finished with 24 combined tackles (16 solo) and one forced fumble. Aside from a strong performance against the New England Patriots over Week 12, in which he had five combined tackles and 1.5 sacks, Ward found it difficult to settle into a consistent groove with the snap count he received, going ten straight games without a sack until Week 11.

Despite his diminished role on special teams (he played in 26 snaps compared to 95 in 2022), Ward couldn’t produce at the same defensive level he did just a season ago despite staying healthy throughout the 2023 campaign.

Why Giants Should Re-sign Him

Ward had a peak performance in his first season with the Giants. And to expect him to replicate those numbers, if not surpass them a year later when he’s not starting in every game, is a bit harsh.

How often have we seen NFL talents have breakout seasons only to fail to replicate the same kind of production a year later? It happens all the time. The good news about Ward is that his decline wasn’t that extreme. From his career high in sacks (5) to matching his career high in pressures (15), Ward illustrated plenty of promise over 2023 and made a good case for why the Giants should re-sign him.

Having a backup and veteran leader like Ward in the locker room goes a long way and is worth the investment, particularly for this Giants defense.

Why Giants Shouldn’t Re-sign Him

The biggest question every team’s general manager has to ask when deciding whether to keep a player is if there is still more to be shown by the player. In this context, were Ward’s 2022 and 2023 performances the best the Giants will see from him?

The Giants didn’t change how much they used Ward from year to year. Aside from being less utilized on special teams, his defensive snap count was practically the same, and he started in nearly half of the 17 games he played, all under the same defensive coordinator. The Giants might want to weigh their options and see if they can find a younger or more affordable outside linebacker who can deliver better numbers.

Keep or Move On?

Ward is still in his prime and brings a lot of veteran savviness, from which this Giants' defense has benefited. Not only does he provide great depth, but he also comes with some invaluable experience that’s worth having among a young Giants defensive unit.

That said, it's hard to forget that he's a favorite of former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and that Martindale once said wherever he goes, Ward will always be welcome to join him. And with Martindale considering his next options and the Giants undoubtedly looking to get younger on the edge, it's hard to envision Ward returning for a third season with the Giants.

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