I'll keep my take short because normally I have tons to say on this and it's late and I need the sleep:
1) Had Michael Sam not come out or simply wasn't gay, his draft stock doesn't drop. That means he stays a 3rd rounder, likely and ALSO isn't asked to do LB drills at the Combine which really hurt him (and, frankly, I thought were meant to sabotage him. ANYONE who watched him for 3 snaps could see he's a hand in the dirt designated pass rusher. Period). That likely means that wherever he'd have ended up, the question wouldn't have been IF he made the squad, but how he was expecting to contribute. Same guy. Only difference would be folks knowing. Wade Davis played in the NFL for years. Only difference is that no one KNEW he was gay. Plenty of guys have been through the league and are gay. Only difference is that Michael Sam is the first guy who just doesn't want to "live the lie". The cost of that? Apparently it's 4 rounds in the draft followed by articles about what a victory it is to BE drafted, by what a victory it is to be DRAFTED, even though he'll probably be cut. Even though the ONLY reason he was a 7th rounder in the first place was? Oh yeah. He's gay. (I have more about how clear the NFL is about how MUCH they don't like the whole openly gay...thing, but I'll stop for this post)
2) If Michael Sam retains that draft status, he doesn't lose the weight. He came to the OTAs at 270 and LOST WEIGHT (13lbs at the time) for the Rams because they want him to play Special Teams coverage units. So Michael Sam lost weight to gain speed. Now, folks are dinging him for being light. Well, how can one have it both ways? As Coach Fisher put it, DEs don't generally play STs, so that's already a challenge, but Michael Sam's working on that. But he lost the weight for the Rams because they asked. He's perfectly capable of putting the weight back on and playing with more strength and power. He's not maxed at 260.
3) Pitting Ethan Westbrooks against Michael Sam diminishes both young men and neither deserve that. Each have their unique journeys and have gone through a lot to get here and each is working hard to make this team. They've both earned this shot. I've stated here and elsewhere that I think Michael Sam got mad shortchanged in the draft process, but that's water under the bridge and if that's what it took for him to be a Ram, then so be it because we got a damned steal in the process and if people can't see how good he can be, then just wait because he really can be that good. He just needs some more time with Boo. And I'm not worried about him right now. He looks like he's got some camp legs having taken more snaps than any D-lineman on the Rams as well as playing some STs, but he's got skills. He's certainly farther along than the hot mess that Chris Long was (and you're damn right, I'll totally get into the complete freaking mess HE was, I don't care WHERE he was drafted, his footwork was complete crap coming out and his hands were only marginally better, which isn't saying much). Btw, that should be the first clue that we should keep BOTH of them. That said, Ethan Westbrooks and Michael Sam are different cats and Coach Fisher would be looking at them to fulfill different roles. Westbrooks would be a guy who would spell William Hayes and bounce inside and out. Michael Sam would bounce outside, left and right. Not every DE can play both sides. Michael can. Now, if Gregg Williams gets comfortable with the rotation, they may stop asking Sam to play STs and allow him to gain some weight that would allow him to be a little more effective against the run.
To directly answer the OP, Ethan Westbrooks was paid a fair sum based upon his potential. However, he was not drafted because no team wanted to reward or take a chance on his red flags. Every team wanted to send that message that, "you weren't drafted, so you need to understand that. If you want to make it here, you'll really have to earn it AND do it the right way." Now, both the Rams and Dallas wanted him, but the Rams really stepped up for him because I guess they saw something in him so they paid him a fair share to get him in. Likely it took that much to convince him and his agent based on our depth. But let's not get it twisted. While one could conceive of a team taking a flyer on him, the reality of a team drafting him was pretty remote considering the number of flags surrounding him.
As for drafting Michael Sam, it was a complicated matter no matter where he was drafted because people were involved and people have a tendency to make things needlessly complicated and dramatic for no good reason. I also think that a defensive coach like Fisher and a GM like Snead, both of whom love the SEC (notice we've taken the last two RBs who led that league in rushing) saw the SEC's co-DPOY sitting there when their compensatory picks were up and even with the Rams line, they had to be smiling. When you're building a team, you don't expect an opportunity to add to your strengths like this even after adding Aaron Donald, but there he was. But... they knew they'd have to "manage" the pick, especially at first and wanted to ensure ownership was on board. Pretty easy considering Kroenke is a Mizzou guy. And, BAM, Sam's a Ram and the rich just got richer, the best DL in the NFL just got deeper. Seriously, we may look back years from now and I dunno which of Aaron Donald, Ethan Westbrooks or Michael Sam will end up being the better player, but I'm sure as hell glad we have them all. It's an embarrassment of riches. Considering how Michael Sam has comported himself as a football player, he's pretty much laid to rest all of the "distraction" nonsense.
Now, we may have just added 3 solid depth/rotational players to what was arguably one of the best DLs in all of football...FROM JUST ONE DRAFT.
The better questions are How is that not gravy? and Why shouldn't we celebrate the Rams good fortune?
Edit: for those that don't know me...this is short for me...
