Every year, some players come into the NFL as undrafted free agents and make an impact.
The Baltimore Ravens could be in luck, as they have found an intriguing defender that could make his way onto the roster or practice squad at least.
Outside linebacker Joe Evans has been tabbed as a player that is an undrafted player to watch for Baltimore by The Athletic.
“If Evans (6-1, 246) stood 2 inches taller or weighed 25 pounds more, a team would have grabbed him by the fourth round. At his pro day, Evans posted a 41.5-inch vertical, and his shuttle and three-cone times were faster than any edge at the combine. He finished his Iowa career with 29 sacks, including four in the Citrus Bowl. He’s a John Harbaugh type of player, as is fellow Ravens UDFA Beau Brade.” - The Athletic
Evans was a productive player who played in 50 career games over his five seasons with the Hawkeyes. The standout defender had a terrific senior season with 46 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.
At Iowa, Evans was a high-character locker room guy who was a leader. Such a player could fit right in with the stability that the Ravens organization has built.
Best fit for a 3-4 defense as a standout linebacker off the edge, Evans landed in the right spot to potentially play himself right onto the team as a rookie. The size concerns are legit, but if he can work past those then the Ravens have found a hidden gem.
Evans was never going to be drafted because of the questionable fit for his build at the NFL level. But if the Ravens can make it work, the rest of the NFL is going to be kicking themselves.
