2018 NFL Supplemental Draft offers value; Keenan Allen's secret
The NFL Supplemental Draft rarely garners much attention from the football world, but this year's event features a number of promising prospects with the potential to impact teams as contributors this season. This is certainly uncommon for a draft that typically features misfits and cast-offs with spotty records and character flaws. Despite those red flags, the supplemental draft has produced some high-level playmakers in the past, with guys like
Hall of Fame inductee Cris Carter,
Josh Gordon and
Terrelle Pryormaking their mark in the league after being mid-summer draft pick
That said, the decision to expend a future pick on a player with academic or off-field issues is a risky play in a league where executives cherish draft currency. To select a player in the supplemental draft, a team will submit a bid with a round value attached to a prospect. If multiple teams submit bids, the player goes to the highest bidder, according to a slotted lottery system that breaks up teams into three different groups: non-playoff teams with six or fewer wins, non-playoff teams with more than six wins and playoff teams. The winning bidder agrees to give up the round selection in the following year's NFL draft. For instance, the
Cleveland Browns used a second-round pick on Gordon in the 2012 supplemental draft, thus surrendering their second-round selection in the regular draft the following spring.
With the risk-reward value in mind, let's take a look at the five prospects available in this year's supplemental draft, which will take place on Wednesday, July 11 at 1 p.m. ET:
Sam Beal, CB, Western Michigan
Adonis Alexander, CB, Virginia Tech
Brandon Bryant, SS, Mississippi State
Bright Ugwoegbu, LB, Oregon State
Martayveus Carter, RB, Grand Valley State