The Los Angeles Rams entered the 2022 NFL draft with a need at the edge rusher position following the departure of Von Miller in free agency. With the 235th overall pick in the seventh round, the Rams took Daniel Hardy out of Montana State to bolster their pass-rushing unit.
Hardy comes from a small school in Montana State, where he tallied 16.5 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss in 2021. He finished with the sixth-most sacks and the ninth-most tackles for loss in the FCS this past season, showing his raw ability to find his way into the backfield.
Hard to pass on this pick.
Welcome to #RamsHouse, @Dhardy44! pic.twitter.com/Sf8MSNE6Kp
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) April 30, 2022
Upon joining the Rams, Hardy joins an interesting edge rusher group that features Leonard Floyd, Terrell Lewis, Chris Garrett, and Justin Hollins. Despite Hardy’s impressive production in 2021, he is going to need time to improve his hand usage and his first-step explosiveness.
The good news for Hardy is that he’ll have talents like Floyd, Aaron Donald, Greg Gaines, and A’Shawn Robinson surrounding him on the defensive front. To conclude his collegiate career, Hardy was an FCS Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big Sky selection for his efforts in 2021.