2014 NFL Draft: Does Michael Sam Fit With the Denver Broncos?

September 22, 2012; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Connor Shaw (14) scrambles for a big gain as Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Michael Sam (52) gives chase in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

The subject of a lot of conversation on day three of the draft is going to be SEC co-defensive player of the year Michael Sam, who revealed to the public earlier this offseason that he is homosexual and would be the first player in the NFL to be openly gay.

Sam’s sexual orientation shouldn’t have anything to do with how far he’d fall in the draft, but some people still seem to think it has or will.

What does he bring as a prospect?

Well, Sam proved over the course of his career at Mizzou that he is capable of putting pressure on the quarterback and making plays in the backfield. He ran between 4.71 and 4.79 in the 40 yard dash between his Pro Day and the Combine, and didn’t display overall great athleticism with just a 25.5 inch vertical leap and 17-19 bench press reps.

The biggest thing Sam has going for him is production in the best conference in football. There is never a time when you would consider your team has ‘enough’ pass rush in the NFL, so the Broncos would obviously be interested in Sam in that regard.

I think if he’s available in the 6th or 7th round, the Broncos could take a long look. He had 11.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss in the SEC last year. That has to count for something. His lack of ideal size and athletic ability is something that teams will obviously not grade out well, but there have been comparisons thrown out there of Elvis Dumervil, who was a fourth round pick of the Broncos back in 2006.

That worked out pretty well.

This is an intriguing player who should hear his name called at some point in day three, or at worst be a priority free agent.