The 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft will begin – and end – shortly after 1pm ET/noon CT. The supplemental draft has been a dud in the last few years, but this year’s draft has some intrigue with three notable prospects up for grabs. Here’s a quick refresher on each player and a reminder on how the supplemental draft works.
The supplemental draft – also known as the league’s “second chance” draft – gives players an opportunity to enter the league in July, provided that they are at least three years removed from high school. Order is determined by a weighted lottery based on the April draft order and teams are given an opportunity to enter a bid before each round. If a team selects a player, they’ll sacrifice the corresponding pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
There are five entrants in total this year, with three names to know: cornerback Sam Beal (Western Michigan), cornerback Adonis Alexander (Virginia Tech), and defensive back Brandon Bryant (Mississippi State).
Beal is widely projected to go within the first three rounds, with some prognosticators estimating that he could go as high as the second round. Had he waited until next year to enter the league, scouts say he had a chance at becoming a first round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
“I think collectively, Beal is considered the top guy,” scouting analyst Eric Galko said recently. “Being a taller corner, being long, fluid and works well vertically, I think he’s a better athlete in terms of his hip fluidity and quick-twitch for a taller corner than most guys are. Usually, you’re sacrificing height for quickness but he does a great job of not being that way — he sinks really low. His ability to play as a press Cover 3 guy will help, and he can play underneath, he can play man coverage and he can work across the field. He plays like a 5’10” corner at 6’1″, that’s why teams are excited about him. I think he had a great shot for Round 1 [in the 2019 draft] if he came back to school.”
Alexander also offers promise as a big cornerback who can excel in zone coverage. He passed a drug test this week, which may help his case with teams after a 2016 arrest on a marijuana charge. Reportedly, Alexander has been passing drug tests regularly for the last eight months. The belief is that Alexander will be considered by clubs in rounds 5-7, and the majority of teams have sent scouts to check him out this summer.
Bryant is in a similar boat and his ability to play either cornerback or safety could boost his stock. At the same time, some evaluators have character concerns. Ultimately, Bryant could go in the later rounds, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him go undrafted either.
“He’s a nightmare discipline-wise,” one AFC college director said. “Very unreliable, plays outside the scheme, not reliable in coverage, his eyes are all over the place. Just can’t trust him. He’s physical and quick and fast. Should he be draftable? Sure. But with all the other stuff …”
Oregon State linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu and Grand Valley State running back Martayveus Carter are also up for grabs, but neither player seems likely to be picked.
This sounds really stupid. So they go all seven rounds for five total players. So if you don’t take a player in the first round what is the likelihood that you’re gonna take a player in the next six rounds so if you don’t take a player in the first round what is the likelihood that you’re gonna take a player in the next six rounds
No, that’s not how they do it. Google it.
They sacrifice a pick in the round they select him in the following year. So since Beal was drafted in the 3rd round, the team that drafted him won’t have a 3rd rounder next year in the regular draft.