OXNARD, Calif. -- Of the many observers in NFL free agency this year, Los Angeles Rams safety Christian Bryant might have been among the most interested.

First, Bryant considers fellow safety Rodney McLeod a friend, and as McLeod approached his first taste of unrestricted free agency, Bryant wanted the best for him. But Bryant also had personal reasons to monitor McLeod's status.

Bryant spent the past two years recovering from an ankle injury and working his way from the practice squad to special-teams contributor on the active roster. With dreams of contributing on defense, Bryant was also well aware that if McLeod departed, it could open doors that were previously closed.

When McLeod signed a five-year, $37 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, those doors came swinging open.

"I was watching it, I was watching the whole free-agent process to be honest with you, just to see what types of moves would be made," Bryant said. "But I’m happy for Rod. He’s a hard-working guy. Over these past two seasons that I’ve been with him, I’ve seen him work hard nonstop and he’s been a good example for me. Just to see him go on and get that big contract, it’s a blessing for him but it’s opening new doors for me every day. I’ve just got to try to continue to do what I’m doing, making strides and taking steps forward every single day."

The goal, of course, is for Bryant to take the ultimate step and claim the job McLeod left behind. That might seem like a long shot from the outside, but the same was once true of McLeod -- a former undrafted rookie who slowly worked his way to the starting job and, eventually, a lucrative free-agent contract.

After allowing McLeod to depart, the Rams showed little urgency to find an outside replacement. They visited with veteran safeties Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner, both of whom remain available, but for now coach Jeff Fisher and Co. seem intent on letting in-house options Bryant and Cody Davis attempt to stake a claim to the job.

“It’s a good group," Fisher said. "Christian Bryant is coming on, really taking advantage of this opportunity. Cody understands the position; he’s got some game experience. We’ve got a couple young guys that we’ll have to look at in a game, when things are live and they are in a pressure situation.”

That's an opportunity Bryant is excited to embrace as he and Davis have been rotating with the first-team defense during organized team activities.

"Competition in an organization is always good because each player always finds some way to get better," Bryant said. "It’s a friendly competition but at the end of the day, this is our job so I’m looking to make all the right plays on the field to make that next step in my career and get on the field with the 1's and stay there."

That Bryant is even in position to compete for the starting free safety job is proof that he's taken plenty of steps forward since he landed with the Rams. In his final college season at Ohio State, Bryant suffered a broken ankle against Wisconsin. The injury cost him most of the 2013 season and he wasn't healed enough to show what he could do during the pre-draft process.

Bryant's draft stock tumbled before the Rams took a chance on him in the seventh round with pick No. 241 overall in the 2014 NFL draft. Bryant was unable to get to full strength during the preseason and make a run at a roster spot, eventually landing on the practice squad where he stayed for the season. When he returned last season, there weren't many expectations for him to contribute but he began to feel more comfortable.

The lingering effects of the ankle injury also stuck with Bryant, who says he only started feeling back to his old self this offseason. With bounce back in his step, Bryant attempted anything possible to work on his game and body, regularly attending Pilates, hot yoga and martial arts classes during the offseason.

"When I first came in, I was still struggling with my ankle and it was bothering me a lot," Bryant said. "But at that time, it was really a point in my life where I was trying to build my self esteem and my mentality back up because that was probably one of the hardest moments of my life just to bounce back from this and just believe again that I can play at a high level and sustain it. I think I’ve come far from there and right now I am doing all the right things and I feel like my confidence is at an all-time high right now."

On a defense dotted with first-round picks, it would be understandable if Bryant wondered whether a former seventh-round pick would get a fair shake when it comes to competing for a starting position. But coordinator Gregg Williams has long believed the NFL is a production business and won't hesitate to put the best players on the field.

For evidence that his opportunity has truly arrived, Bryant need only look to the man he's hoping to replace.

"If you go in and do the right things, show your worth, prove that you have the skills and mindset of a competitor always on the field and you just show the coaches that you are always ready and able to compete at the highest level, there’s always room for guys like that," Bryant said. "That’s with a high drafted guy or not a draft pick. There’s always a competition when you get in the NFL. Anything that you did in college doesn’t matter at this level. You have always got to prove yourself every day."