Brandon Bryant Goes Undrafted
Mississippi State defensive back Brandon Bryant was not selected in Wednesday’s supplemental draft. That means Bryant is now a free agent and eligible to sign with any club.
Prior to Wednesday, it was reported that Bryant was in the mix for one of the draft’s final rounds. However, all 32 teams passed on a chance to take him.
As expected, Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal was the first player off the board when the Giants selected him in the third round. Then, in the sixth round, the Redskins took Virginia Tech’s Adonis Alexander. That leaves the other entrants – Bryant, Oregon State linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu, and Grand Valley State running back Martayveus Carter – eligible to sign with any team.
It’s not clear if Ugwoegbu or Carter will draw interest from clubs, but it’s likely that Bryant will sign somewhere in the coming days. Although Bryant did not meet expectations at his pro day, he has explosive athleticism that could translate into success at the next level.
Redskins Select Adonis Alexander
Adonis Alexander has an NFL home. With their pick in the sixth round, the Redskins selected the talented Virginia Tech cornerback.
Alexander’s length, balls skills, and arm size (over 32 inches) caught the attention of evaluators this year. Although he does not come with the same hype as Western Michigan’s Sam Beal, he has the potential to be a contributor in his own right.
At 6’3″ and 207 pounds, Alexander offers tremendous size. He also has experience in zone coverage schemes thanks to his time at Virginia Tech.
The Redskins project to use Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, and newcomer Orlando Scandrick as their top three cornerbacks. Alexander figures to slot somewhere behind them, provided that he makes the final cut. The Redskins also have 2017 third-round pick Fabian Moreau, seventh-round rookie Greg Stroman, and Joshua Holsey under contract.
As a freshman in 2015, Alexander impressed scouts as he intercepted four passes at the safety position. He followed up with a strong sophomore campaign, but he found himself at odds with coaches in 2017 and was hit with a two-game ban for not living up to the “expectations” of head coach Justin Fuente. He was also held back by a hamstring injury suffered in November.
Had he entered the 2019 NFL draft, Alexander would have had a shot at going in the first two rounds. The Redskins see Alexander as a high-value addition who is well worth the forfeiture of their sixth-round pick next year.
Giants Select Sam Beal In Supplemental Draft
The Giants have landed the top talent in this year’s supplemental draft. With their pick in the third round, the Giants selected the former Western Michigan cornerback. 
Beal, a 6’1″ cornerback, ran a 4.47-second 40-yard-dash during a recent workout, cementing his status as the top draw in this year’s second-chance draft. Every NFL team watched him audition and it sounds like most evaluators came away impressed.
By selecting Beal, the Giants have fortified their cornerback group after releasing Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The Giants did not take a cornerback in the spring draft, but they found another way to add a young and talented prospect behind starters Eli Apple and Janoris Jenkins. Meanwhile, the arrival of Beal will put pressure on the Giants’ other reserve corners, a group that includes free agent additions William Gay, Teddy Williams, and B.W. Webb plus holdover Donte Deayon.
Beal is the first player taken in the supplemental draft since the Rams chose lineman offensive lineman Isaiah Battle in 2015. There have only been 43 players selected in the supplemental draft since 1977, including two in the past six years. However, there have been some serious gems found in July, including Bernie Kosar (1985), Cris Carter (1987), Terrelle Pryor (2011) and Josh Gordon (2012).
Beal is the third player the Giants have ever taken in the supplemental draft. He joins quarterback Dave Brown (first round, 1992) and cornerback Tito Wooten (fourth round, 1994) in the record books.
Per the rules of the supplemental draft, the Giants will forfeit their third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. However, they have gained a player with significant upside who can help them immediately, rather than waiting for a rookie next year.
2018 NFL Supplemental Draft Primer
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.
Latest On Bills’ LeSean McCoy
On Tuesday, disturbing allegations were made against Bills running back LeSean McCoy. McCoy denied any involvement in abusing his ex-girlfriend, who was left battered and bloodied after an apparent home invasion. Furthermore, McCoy was not in the same state at the time. However, the attorney for Delicia Cordon is now also intimating that McCoy was involved in the incident.
Here’s the latest on McCoy:
- “The assailant demanded specific items of jewelry that had been previously gifted to Ms. Cordon by Mr. McCoy, which Mr. McCoy had requested back on many occasions,” the statement from the attorney explains (via ESPN.com). “In fact, after Ms. Cordon refused to return her jewelry gifts to Mr. McCoy, he would often suggest to Ms. Cordon that she could be robbed because the jewelry was expensive.”
- The Instagram post that brought the allegations to light has since been deleted, but the unidentified Instagram user says it was not her call. “For the record [the alleged victim’s] lawyer forced me to remove that post. I stand by what I said….I’ve personally addressed [LeSean McCoy] on everything that was stated many many times over the years. Lie to these people if you want Shady, but you know I know everything,” said the friend of Cordon (Twitter links via ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak).
- Court records in Georgia show McCoy has been attempting to evict Cordon from the home in question since last July. A hearing was scheduled for Tuesday in the case, but it was postponed until August because of an emergency in Cordon’s attorney’s family (via Rodak). The attorney for Cordon also alleges that on June 1, McCoy directed “his family, friends and laborers” to remove Cordon’s furniture from the home in an attempt to evict her. The attorney also claims McCoy changed the alarm system and removed security cameras.
- The police report in the incident also points to a specific motive. “The preliminary investigation indicates that this residence was specifically targeted by the suspect or suspects, and not a random incident,” police said. “When officers arrived they found one victim who had been physically assaulted by a lone intruder. During the altercation, the suspect demanded specific items from the victim.”
This Date In Transactions History: Mike Vrabel Retires
On this date in 2011, Mike Vrabel traded in his pads for a clipboard and whistle. Vrabel, a longtime NFL linebacker, retired from the Chiefs on July 11, 2011 in order to become an assistant coach at Ohio State. 
Vrabel was just a few weeks shy of his 36th birthday at the time and was still a productive player on the field. In 2010, he amassed 48 total tackles for the Chiefs and appeared in all 16 games. However, he wasn’t the same player that he was in his prime with the Patriots, and the time he spent with the younger players in KC nudged him in the direction of coaching.
“His genuine love for the game, his preparation, his work ethic, leadership and dependability are qualities you want from every player,” then-Chiefs GM Scott Pioli said. “He is a champion in every sense of the word and I’m confident all of these qualities will make him a great coach. I cannot overstate my respect for him as a person and a football player.”
Pioli was right – he had a knack for this coaching thing. Although Vrabel was hired by interim Buckeyes coach (and his former teammate and roommate) Luke Fickell, Urban Meyer elected to keep him on board as a part of his new staff when he took over in December of 2011. In 2014, he hooked on with the Texans as their linebackers coach. In 2017, he was elevated to defensive coordinator in Houston. This past January, the Titans hired him as their head coach after a quick search.
“He was the ultimate team-first player, and he embodies that same mindset as a coach,” Titans GM Jon Robinson said after hiring Vrabel. “He is intelligent, energetic, detailed and a leader whose deep passion for this game will resonate with our players. As a coach, I have seen him develop talent at both the college and NFL level, and put players in position for them to be successful.”
Vrabel might have been able to contribute on the field for a 15th NFL season, but he opted to jumpstart his coaching career on this date seven years ago instead. If not for that decision, Vrabel probably wouldn’t have ascended the NFL coaching ladder as quickly as he did to become the Titans’ new head coach this year.
East Notes: Cowboys, Thomas, Jets, Giants
The Cowboys purged their veteran secondary in recent years by allowing Brandon Carr, Barry Church, and Morris Claiborne to walk in free agency. Now, the Cowboys have a young group of cornerbacks and safeties, which leaves some question marks on defense, Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas News writes.
Of course, the Cowboys could still inject some veteran savvy into the group by trading for Seahawks safety Earl Thomas. The Cowboys haven’t given up hope of acquiring the multiple-time Pro Bowler, and it sounds like Thomas would love to play in Dallas.
Here’s more from the East divisions:
- There are some notable players on the Jets‘ roster bubble, Darryl Slater of NJ.com writes, including wide receiver Devin Smith, outside linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin, and running back Thomas Rawls. Rawls, at one point in time, flashed some potential with Seattle, but the Jets’ top two RB spots are locked down by Bilal Powell and Isaiah Crowell. Meanwhile, rising sophomore Eli McGuire and sixth-round rookie Trenton Cannon could place ahead of him.
- Speaking of running backs in the Meadowlands, Matt Lombardo of NJ.com takes a look at the Giants‘ RB depth chart. Lombardo sees Wayne Gallman and Jonathan Stewart as the top backs behind rookie Saquon Barkley with Robert Martin on the bubble and Jalen Simmons on the outside looking in. Both Martin and Simmons joined the G-Men this year as UDFAs and Martin’s explosiveness gives him the edge over Simmons. Although Martin has impressed in practice, there’s no guarantee that the Giants will carry more than three running backs on their initial roster.
- On Tuesday morning, we rounded up the latest on the Cowboys.
Virginia Tech’s Alexander Passes Drug Test
Good news for Virginia Tech cornerback Adonis Alexander. On the eve of the NFL’s supplemental draft, teams have received records of a clean drug test taken this week, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Alexander was arrested on a marijuana charge in 2016, but his camp has been working to prove that it was just an isolated incident. The defensive back has passed tests over the last eight months, which bodes well for his chances of being selected on Wednesday.
Alexander is one of three players believed to be contention to be drafted. Former Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal is reportedly the best of the bunch and could go as high as the second round. After that, Alexander could be in the mix in rounds 5-7, along with Mississippi State defensive back Brandon Bryant.
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.
Alabama LB Terrell Lewis Suffers Torn ACL
One of the top prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft has suffered a serious injury. Alabama linebacker Terrell Lewis has bene diagnosed with a torn right ACL, according to an announcement from the school. Although “a timeframe for his return is unknown at this time,” it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to take the field this season. 
Early projections had Lewis (f.k.a. Terrell Hall) in the mix to be a first-round pick in the 2019 draft. That is now very much in jeopardy, though he might be able to recover in time for team workouts in the winter.
Unfortunately, injuries have plagued Lewis throughout his collegiate career. In 2017, he suffered an injury in the season opener which cost him the bulk of the year. Hopes were high after he excelled in spring football practices, but scouts will have to wait a while before seeing the 6’5″, 247-pound linebacker on the field again.
In the wake of this news, it’s quite possible that Lewis will stay in school for 2019 rather than going pro. He’ll have ample time to assess his decision, however, and the counsel of the College Advisory Committee (CAC) may play a role in his determination next year.
South Notes: Saints, Vaccaro, Texans
Saints free agent safety Kenny Vaccaro is still on the market, but it’s not due to any health issues, Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets. And, although the safety market didn’t develop as expected, Underhill anticipates that he’ll land somewhere before training camp starts.
It’s possible that Vaccaro turned down some low-cost deals early on in free agency, as Underhill notes that there was “no need [for him] to hurry and sign a deal when free agency opened.” He may have some regrets about that now, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Vaccaro won’t be able to find a team on a low-cost one-year deal.
The Colts, Jets, and Dolphins showed interest in Vaccaro earlier this offseason, but we haven’t heard much about him in recent weeks. While we wait to see where the former Saints safety will land, here’s more out of the South divisions:
- Texans safety Tyrann Mathieu is the best newcomer to the AFC South, Sarah Barshop, Mike Wells, and Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com argue. Mathieu isn’t coming off a great year, but the Texans will mostly play Mathieu at his natural safety position which may allow him to thrive. After the Texans fell to last place in the NFL in points allowed, they’re certainly hoping that Mathieu will have a big impact in 2018.
- In the same piece, ESPN.com’s Cameron Wolfe makes a case for Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler being the AFC South’s best new player. Although Butler’s curious benching in the Super Bowl has some concerned, he boasts 44 total pass breakups in the last three seasons, which is good for second most among all cornerbacks in the league since 2015. If things pan out, Butler could give the Titans the high-end defender they need to bottle up opposing receivers in the division like DeAndre Hopkins and T.Y. Hilton.
- New Panthers owner David Tepper confirmed that the team will remain in Charlotte, North Carolina.