As the world focuses on pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney, Khalil Mack and Anthony Barr, another big story from early in the draft process has started to lose some heat. Missouri’s Michael Sam is on the verge of falling out of the draft completely.
Of course, Sam is the first openly gay Division-I athlete and will soon become the first openly gay active NFL player, but the question is how will he enter the league. According to the Journal Sentinal’s Bob McGinn, NFL executives and scouts don’t exactly know where to place Sam, but know they wouldn't draft him before the fifth round.
The Journal Sentinel polled 21 scouts with national responsibilities asking what round, if any, they would be comfortable selecting Sam.
Three said fifth round. Three said sixth round. Three said seventh round. Five said they would sign him as a free agent. Seven said they wouldn't sign him as a free agent.
Three scouts from clubs using the 4-3 defense said emphatically that Sam didn't fit their scheme. Conversely, two scouts from teams using the 3-4 defense said emphatically that Sam didn't fit their scheme.
The consensus was that Sam was worthy of being on an NFL roster due to his amazing motor and work ethic, but he is a player without a true position. Scouts maintain that Sam has no real skill set that would translate to the NFL and that most of his highlights and notable plays came from hustle and not giving up on plays.
With the draft only days away, look for Sam to go on day three if he goes at all at this point. Some team that grades Sam as a fifth round pick would love to have him in the sixth or seventh.
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