Daelin Hayes: 35 tackles, two sacks
The Baltimore Ravens drafted another edge rusher in Daelin Hayes. Hayes will get some action in the defense. Think about it. The Ravens still don’t have a veteran pass rusher added to the mix after the draft. The Ravens could honestly be walking into the season with Tyus Bowser, Oweh, Pernell McPhee, Jaylon Ferguson, and Hayes as their outside linebackers.
Bowser is the new Matt Judon, whether or not he can match the former Grand Valley State star’s production. Oweh is the new Yannick Ngakoue, he’s there to be a freak athlete attacking the backfield. Pernell McPhee is on a reduced snap count to keep him available. Jaylon Ferguson hasn’t shown any progression in his career to this point.
The fact of the matter is that Hayes is going to play. Hayes is going to be good against the run. His problem is that he’s not the lightning bolt that Oweh is. Hayes is the ham sandwich-type draft prospect. He’s in your packed lunch, and it will do. It’s a solid meal that gives you what you need to get through the day. You don’t eat pizza for lunch every day. Just like the ham sandwich goes in the brown paper bag, Hayes is going on the field.
Hayes will get 35 tackles and will look a lot like a younger version of Pernell McPhee. As disappointing as Jaylon Ferguson has been, the Ravens may just want to give Hayes the role that Ferguson should have grown into by now. 35 tackles and two sacks. That’s nothing to scoff at for a fifth-round pick.