What mystery position will LA Rams John Daka play this year?

The LA Rams list John Daka at 6-foot-2 and 227 pounds.  That is how the official Rams roster has him listed but at the position of defensive lineman. The team doubles down with that confusing presentation by listing him at the defensive tackle position on the unofficial depth chart. John Daka is just 227 pounds, folks. He’s nowhere, no way, no how a defensive tackle. So what is he for the LA Rams?

He is an edge rusher and outside linebacker. For the LA Rams, he is an intriguing addition. You see, he was an undrafted free agent signing by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 out of James Madison University, but the team waived him at the roster cuts to get down to the 53-man roster limit. Undaunted, he remained hopeful and signed on with the New York Jets to a future/reserve contract in January 2021.

When the Jets waived him in May, the LA Rams signed him up to fill a spot in the outside linebacker room While the team lost both Samsun Embukam and Derek Rivers in the offseason, the team was only able to add Chis Garrett and Max Roberts, both talented players, but both are considered developmental projects who may not be ready for the rigors of the NFL season right out of the gates.

The Rams’ outside linebacker situation was further complicated this year with the return of knee problems for second-year player Terrell Lewis. The Rams only got 124 defensive snaps out of Lewis in his rookie season. If that happens this year, the Rams really do not have enough horses to compensate. Well, they do if they factor John Daka into the mix. His college production certainly argues a great reason to do so.

When the Rams claimed Daka, we expected that he would fill the rotational role of Derek Rivers. We are sticking to that expectation for now. After all, Daka is now on his third NFL roster and competing in his second season. While he may not be ready to start just yet, he could slip in on some rotational role, particularly if he impresses the coaching staff to believe that he is just scratching the surface.

I have it from a reliable source that John Daka is training with the outside linebackers. That all makes sense. After all, if a 6-foot-2 227-pound defender was in the mix to play defensive tackle for the LA Rams, we’d have a lot more to say about that. And so would the NFL headlines around the nation.