One could make a strong case, that Sam deserved
to at least be on the practice squad.
Michael Sam had 11 tackles and three sacks that preseason. There were 20 DEs with at least one sack and 8 tackles in the preseason that year. Only 2 did not make a roster. There were 31 rookies who had two or more sacks and 10 or more tackles in the preseason between 2010 and 2014 (again, Sam exceeded those numbers in both categories), Sam is one of only three to not make at least a season-long practice squad. Frank Trotter out of Memphis is the only other defensive end in this category. Trotter was an UDFA but not one of the ones added right after the draft. He signed with Philly in June after doing well after attending a minicamp on a tryout basis. So he was added but most likely as camp fodder. Furthermore, of the 69 Defensive Players of the Year of the big five conferences drafted from 2000 to 2014, Sam is the only one who did not make a roster or practice squad.
Here are Sam's and Westbrooks' preseason stats
Sam 11 tackles, 10 solo, 3 sacks for 20 yards
Westbrooks 12 tackles, 11 solo, 2 sacks for 9 yards
There is very little difference there. Now I have no problem saying that they were going head to head for one spot and the team chose Westbrooks, who makes the squad is not just based on the game performances - it could be who is performing better in practice, how well they are doing on the field in plays where they don't make the stop (are they filling their gaps, following the game plan, blowing up blocks so a LB can make the tackle or being blocked and opening up running lanes, etc.) and so on.
But based on his preseason stats he probably was good enough for some team to add him to their practice squad. The rams' strength was their DL that year so there were less open spots then on a team that had a weaker line coming into 2014 who played a 4-3 such as Jacksonville or Oakland should have brought him in.
