The #Packers are signing #Buccaneers practice squad OLB Ladarius Hamilton to the 53-man roster, a source said. He's 6-3, 260, a first-year player out of North Texas.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) September 17, 2021
In response to sending top edge rusher Za’Darius Smith to injured reserve, the Green Bay Packers will add help at outside linebacker from an outside source.
According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers are signing Ladarius Hamilton off of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad. He will join the team’s 53-man roster.
Hamilton went undrafted out of North Texas in 2020. He spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys before being claimed off waivers by the Buccaneers in May.
At North Texas, Hamilton delivered 16 sacks and 28.5 tackles for losses over 43 games.
Asked about Hamilton, Bucs Wire editor Luke Easterling said he was “buried” behind a deep pass-rushing group in Tampa Bay but “flashed” during the preseason.” Hamilton delivered four stops against the run and two pressures, including a sack, while playing 64 snaps over three preseason games with the Bucs.
Hamilton will join Jonathan Garvin and Chauncey Rivers as the top backups behind starters Preston Smith and Rashan Gary.
At the 2020 combine, Hamilton ran the 40-yard dash in 4.89 seconds at 262 pounds. His athletic profile can be viewed below:
LaDarius Hamilton is a DE prospect in the 2020 draft class out of North Texas.
He posted a poor #RAS with poor size, poor speed, okay explosiveness, poor agility at the DE position.https://t.co/MmU5hQNmuT pic.twitter.com/a4U7IuTIzV
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 9, 2020
Hamilton has never played a snap in an NFL regular season game.