1. John Daka:
John Daka is an outside linebacker who comes from James Madison. If he played at a bigger school, he could have been a day three draft pick. We’re talking about a pass rusher here who had 15 solo sacks last season and had 27.5 sacks in his collegiate career. Daka has some serious burst and with the Ravens pass rushing situation, he could end up being a welcomed addition. The biggest problem last year was that the Ravens didn’t get enough pass rush from the outside linebackers. If John Harbaugh and Don Martindale see even a little bit of hope here, they will find a reason to keep him around.
The biggest reason for concern is that Daka lacks length. He’s only 6-2 and weighs 227 pounds. That may have worked at James Madison, but that’s not the measurables the Ravens typically look for. Daka is a player who has the talent, but not some of the key traits for his position. While the level of competition and the relatively small stage hurt him the most in the NFL Draft process, he doesn’t have the physical traits that get you drafted as a pas rusher. There are certainly exceptions to the rule. Elvis Dumervil was just 5-11 and he was one of the best pass rushers of his generation. The thing is that there aren’t a lot of pass rushers in the league that make it who measure up less than 6-3.
Daka is a fun player to watch and an underdog worth rooting for. He is the kind of player that could really benefit from preseason play. A couple of preseason sacks might have been enough to get him on the active roster., Daka will have to make the most of training camp. He’s got exiting talent when it comes to getting to the quarterback. If he can prove that he’s ready to produce at the NFL level, the Ravens will take all the pass rush they can get.