The St. Louis Rams soon have a decision to make regarding seventh-round rookie defensive end Michael Sam. In a Tuesday appearance on PFT Live, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch explained that Sam could still have a difficult time making the team, despite a couple of sacks in the preseason.
With the Rams destined to keep eight defensive lineman, Sam will be competing with Ethan Westbrooks, who arrived undrafted from West Texas A&M for the ninth spot. If the Rams decide to carry 10 defensive lineman on the 53-man roster, Sam and Westbrooks will both stay.
As Rams G.M. Les Snead told PFT Live in May, the team used a late-round pick on Sam due to concerns that it would be difficult to persuade rookie defensive ends to choose to join a loaded depth chart via undrafted free agency. Westbrook, to his credit, embraced the challenge.
As Peter King of TheMMQB.com pointed out on Tuesday, Sam could be destined for the practice squad. To get to the practice squad, however, Sam would first have to clear waivers. And there’s a good chance Sam has played well enough in the preseason to prompt a team with needs at the position to make a claim on Sam’s contract.
So, basically, all those 96 jerseys in blue and gold could soon be worthless.