The most uninteresting part of the NFL Draft is about to begin, but depending on if/when Michael Sam is taken throughout rounds four to through seven, it could be a historic day.

If the defensive end and defending SEC defensive player of the year is drafted Sunday, he will stand to be the NFL's first openly gay player. Unfortunately for Sam, he will be getting drafted for his character and work ethic, apparently not for his talent.

According to the Associated Press, many NFL evaluators believe he is too small to play defensive end and not fast enough to play outside linebacker. However, his work ethic is undeniable, as ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper pointed out.

"He'll get you coverage sacks," he said. "He'll play in the first quarter just like he does in the fourth quarter. 100 percent."

In last year's draft, some evaluators had similar views on Manti Te'o, an inside linebacker from Notre Dame, whose draft stock fell and kept him out of the first round. The San Diego Chargers eventually drafted Te'o in the second round.

Like Te'o, Sam did not perform well in pre-draft workouts, but both have exceptional reputations as teammates and as hard workers. Unlike Te'o, Sam's draft stock was never very high.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel polled 21 NFL executives on where they see Sam being taken and they are all pretty much split.

From the report:

"Three said fifth round. Three said sixth round. Three said seventh round. Five said they would sign him as a free agent. Seven said they wouldn't sign him as a free agent.

"Three scouts from clubs using the 4-3 defense said emphatically that Sam didn't fit their scheme. Conversely, two scouts from teams using the 3-4 defense said emphatically that Sam didn't fit their scheme."

Sam is not Jadeveon Clowney, a 4-3 defensive end who is big and athletic enough to convert to the 3-4 system run by the Houston Texans. Whatever team drafts him, they are going to have to have a specific vision in mind and be willing to wait while he develops.

"Most of his production was hustle stuff," an NFC personnel man told the MJS. "There's production, but he's short, he's not a really good athlete and he doesn't play good against the run."

Conor Gaughan, founder of the media strategy firm Collective Conscience, told NJ.com drafting Sam may also be worthwhile simply for marketing reasons. For one, that team gets to be the first team with an openly gay player, and two, Sam's jersey sales. When Jason Collins officially joined the Brooklyn Nets this season, his jersey immediately became a best seller.

"I understand that many analysts only see Sam as a potentially promising player who has a 50 percent chance of getting picked, but this is a business and often a family dynasty," Gaughan said. "It's fair to assume some owners will venture beyond the scouting reports and data driven playbook in an effort to cement their place in the annals of sports history."

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