--- title: Michael Sam, In NFL Draft, Might Not Get Picked. Don't Freak Out description: If the Missouri standout, who is seeking to become the first active openly gay player in the NFL, doesn't get the call this weekend, some NFL team will probably give him a chance as a free agent. If no one does, then cry bigotry. canonical: https://time.com/94608/dont-freak-out-if-michael-sam-isnt-drafted/ author: Sean Gregory article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-05-09T21:20:34.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T08:54:04.876Z article:section: Ideas og:title: Michael Sam, In NFL Draft, Might Not Get Picked. Don't Freak Out og:description: If the Missouri standout, who is seeking to become the first active openly gay player in the NFL, doesn't get the call this weekend, some NFL team will probably give him a chance as a free agent. If no one does, then cry bigotry. og:url: https://time.com/94608/dont-freak-out-if-michael-sam-isnt-drafted/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9d07c5b6484ba7ff/69868ec806f2c111d932ed1f/ap299151400509.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: Michael Sam og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Michael Sam, In NFL Draft, Might Not Get Picked. Don't Freak Out twitter:description: If the Missouri standout, who is seeking to become the first active openly gay player in the NFL, doesn't get the call this weekend, some NFL team will probably give him a chance as a free agent. If no one does, then cry bigotry. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9d07c5b6484ba7ff/69868ec806f2c111d932ed1f/ap299151400509.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Dont Freak Out If Michael Sam Isn't Drafted > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Inside TIME: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Inside TIME is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories. Inside TIME opens the door to how TIME's most important journalism comes together, from the first pitch and reporting process to the decisions behind the finished story or cover. Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs takes readers inside the newsroom, revealing the journalists, ideas and editorial choices behind the stories shaping the global conversation. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=dfd13339-448f-449d-a5f0-76102862df4a&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | TIME, August 2026 | | Written by | Sam Jacobs, Editor-in-Chief | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership Globally minded knowledge seekers. Readers who turn to journalism to understand the world, with meaningful concentrations among educators, students, media professionals, civic institutions and knowledge workers. ### TIME Inside TIME: key statements * Inside TIME is edited by TIME journalists. 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It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover. #### How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers? Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who is the editor of TIME? Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions. #### Is Inside TIME free? Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent.  by [Sean Gregory](https://time.com/author/sean-gregory/)  ## Sean Gregory Senior Correspondent May 9, 2014 9:20 PM UTC  University of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam warms up at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on Feb. 24, 2014. University of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam warms up at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on Feb. 24, 2014. Ben Liebenberg—AP  by [Sean Gregory](https://time.com/author/sean-gregory/)  ## Sean Gregory Senior Correspondent May 9, 2014 9:20 PM UTC Now that Johnny Football has been [drafted](http://time.com/93527/johnny-football-learns-a-little-humility/) — some team finally did select him, right? Manziel’s not still chugging [water](hebiglead.com/2014/05/08/johnny-manziel-is-drinking-water-not-beer-he-looks-kinda-nervous/grab-2014-05-08-19h56m33s91/#main) at that table? — all eyes turn toward Michael Sam. Usually, the second through seventh rounds of the NFL draft, which ESPN and the NFL network will broadcast tonight and Saturday, are only of interest to die-heard fans. (And plenty of them will stay inside on a lovely spring Saturday, to see whom their favorite team snares in the fifth round. Drama!) But this year, the later rounds offer intrigue for a much broader audience. Which team, if any, will take Sam, who would become the first active openly gay player to suit up for an NFL franchise? The consensus — which comes with a giant disclaimer, since many anonymous scouts make a living telling strategic lies to NFL reporters — is that Sam will be taken between the fifth and seventh rounds on Saturday, or quite possibly not at all. Bob McGinn, the highly-respected NFL writer from the Milwaukee _Journal Sentinel_, [polled](http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/michael-sam-grabs-attention-from-public-but-not-scouts-b99261944z1-257888581.html) 21 scouts from around the league, and asked where they think Sam should go. --- > “” --- Sam, the SEC defensive player of the year, has a real problem. He’s a classic tweener: potentially not big and strong enough to play on the defensive line, where he started at Missouri, but not fast enough to play linebacker in the NFL. But Sam, who’s listed at 6-ft., 2-in. and 261 pounds, has improved his 40-yard dash time, vertical leap, bench-press reps, and Wonderlic intelligence test this spring. If Sam’s name isn’t called over the next two days, expect a flood of hysterical questions and forced debates. Did teams pass on him because of his sexuality, and use his lack of size and speed as a convenient excuse? Did they not want the media “distraction” that would accompany Sam, wherever he goes? Before rushing to call out NFL execs as bigots, however, consider: whether he’s drafted or not, Sam will get his chance to show a NFL team he can play. Because worst case, some team will invite Sam to camp as an undrafted free agent. Here, I’ll trust those five scouts in McGinn’s poll who said they would sign him. It would be crazy for no team to at least give the SEC player of the year a look in camp. From a pure football perspective, it’s a low-risk, potential high-reward move. The [list](http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/top%5F10%5Fundrafted%5Ffree%5Fagents%5Fin%5FNFL%5Fhistory/) of undrafted free agents who later became stars is impressive, and includes Houston Texans running back Arian Foster, ex-NFL MVP Kurt Warner, and New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, who signed a luscious five-year, $43 million contract extension with the team last summer. So if you’re a Sam fan, or are just rooting for his social message — a gay player can be accepted in the most “manly” American team sport — don’t freak out if his name isn’t called. If no NFL team extends Sam an invite to camp, that’s when things get fishy. 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