The Baltimore Ravens lucked into drafting outside linebacker and edge rusher David Ojabo coming out of Michigan in 2022 with a second-round pick. That was possible only because of a near-season-ending injury suffered by the former Wolverine in the NFL combine.
Speaking to reporters attending Friday's practice at The Castle, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta confirmed himself to be a believer in Ojabo's potential and bright future with the organization. He also touched on fellow OLB Odafe Oweh, a 2021 first-round pick.
"[Ojabo and Oweh] are good, young players that we're very excited to see. They're going to all improve at their own pace. David [Ojabo] is a guy that obviously missed a lot of football last year. We think that he's shown us what he can do in practice this year so far in training camp. We've seen it. Eventually, I think when he gets in games, NFL regular season games, I think he and Odafe [Oweh] both are going to have very, very good seasons for us."Eric DeCosta, Baltimore Ravens GM
Those comments came after Bo Smolka asked the GM about the decision of signing uber-veteran and former no. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney to bolster the pass rushing unit.
DeCosta said Clowney is "a player that we've admired for a long time," revealing that the Ravens "scouted him in the past." According to the GM, Baltimore plans to use Clowney "like Jason Pierre-Paul last year, and Justin , and guys like that."
The GM confirmed that Clowney "wanted to play here," revealing a strategy in which "when a guy expresses an interest in coming here, that resonates with me. We want guys that want to be here, and he wanted to get it done."
The Ravens "were happy to work with him," and ultimately that led to them inking Clowney to a one-year deal with the organization for the 2023 season.