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The St. Louis Rams drafted Michael Sam out of the University of Missouri in the seventh round, despite having ample depth along the defensive line. Sam faced considerable odds entering training camp, and with the preseason concluded, he remains uncertain of his future with the team.
Still, Sam and Rams head coach Jeff Fisher believe he has a future in the NFL, whether it be in St. Louis or elsewhere.
Rams DE Michael Sam: "I'm very confident I'll be playing on a NFL roster this fall. I know I can play in this league."
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) August 29, 2014
Fisher on @MichaelSamNFL: "I believe he can play in this league." #STLvsMIA
— St. Louis Rams (@STLouisRams) August 29, 2014
NFL Rosters
Sam was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, but his draft stock was tough to gauge because of his size and speed. Sam ran a slow 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in February, registering a 4.91 time. At 6'2 and 255 pounds, Sam is undersized as a defensive end and too slow as a linebacker.
Teams are required to be down to a 53-man roster by Saturday afternoon. The Rams will either keep Sam on the active roster, put him on waivers with the hope of putting him on the practice squad, or release him outright to let him move on to another franchise.