2015 NFL Draft: St. Louis Rams Select Baylor LB Bryce Hager in Seventh Round

The St. Louis Rams have selected Baylor linebacker Bryce Hager with the seventh pick of the seventh round, 224th overall, in the 2015 NFL Draft. Hager was the first defensive player the team had taken after taking seven straight offensive players.

The 6-foot-1, 234-pound Hager had 114 tackles and two sacks as a senior middle linebacker for the Bears. He played in the East-West Shrine Game and attended the combine, though he didn’t put up any eye-popping results in the drills. With the Rams, he has a chance to be a versatile backup at all the linebacker spots and contribute on special teams, though he’ll face some tough competition.

Alec Ogletree and James Laurinaitis will fill two starting linebacker spots for the Rams, and free-agent signing Akeem Ayers and incumbent Jo-Lonn Dunbar will compete for the other. Special teams ace Daren Bates and another key special-teamer down the stretch, Korey Toomer, are around to provide depth, and safety Mark Barron may see action in a nickel linebacker role once again. Thus, Hager will have to prove himself during training camp to earn a spot on the 53-man roster and may have to beat out a player like Toomer in order to make it.

Next: Mizzou RB Marcus Murphy Drafted in Seventh Round by New Orleans Saints