The case for OLB Daniel Hardy making the LA Rams 53-man roster

You might suspect that the LA Rams’ 235th overall pick out of Montana State outside linebacker Daniel Hardy may not make the team’s 53-man roster, but there are solid reasons to believe that he will. If the saying ‘Where there is a will, there is a way,‘ applies to the NFL, then Daniel Hardy will have a spot on the roster and he will find a way to fill it.

He is a 6-foot-2 235-pound edge rusher who should thank his lucky stars because he was selected by a team that truly needs him to show up from the get-go. Even if he only begins the season on special team coverage units, he will be filling a role, showcasing his talents, and honing his talent.

Young players arriving at the NFL are both raw and inexperienced, making them desperate for coaching and patience. Hardy will both in copious amounts with the LA Rams. He may have taken his good ole time to be added to the team’s rost (selected in round seven with the 235th overall pick), but he was not something the Rams picked up off the candy rack at the NFL Draft checkout stand.

The team knew all about him and knew when to grab him. He ended up on the team that wanted him the most.

He plays at outside linebacker, a position the team needed to address during the NFL Draft.

LA Rams draft another hidden gem

So what do we know about him? Well, for starters we know that he is a workhorse, a young man who takes nothing for granted and works hard to earn every inch of progress. We also know that has already registered with the LA Rams coaching staff:

A work ethic, unfortunately, can only carry a player so far. But outworking his teammates and the competition is only the beginning for this young man. He is blessed with peak athleticism, and a mindset to push himself further, faster, and longer than anyone else on the football field.

If his reputation is bonafide, we’ll know all about him on kickoff and punt coverage units, as he has a reputation for being a special team’s heat-seeking missile. That will be his opening to get on the roster. If he is as good as believed, he won’t stop there.

Much like veteran OLB Von Miller, Hardy can get low and pivot at an almost 90-degree turn as he makes his way to the quarterback. That upfield pivot inward pincer move is incredibly effective against modern dual-threat quarterbacks and is a technique the Rams have come to love in their pass rushers. He simply needs to get stronger and refine his techniques, which is in progress.

Special team production will earn Hardy a spot on the LA Rams roster. But once there, he won’t stop until he earns playing time.