The Other Draft

Since 1997, NFL teams have had the opportunity to supplement their roster with the Supplemental Draft. This is a draft of former college players that weren't part of the regular draft and are no longer eligible to return to their college teams for a variety of reasons. Those reasons can range from something great like graduation to something terrible like being booted from their college team. It's most often the latter. Many of these players have some baggage. Since 1977, a total of 43 players have been selected in the Supplemental Draft. Most of those players have done nothing in the NFL. Some have done a little. A few have had nice football careers. Among the most notable selections were quarterback Bernie Kosar (Cleveland, 1985), and wide receivers Cris Carter (Philadelphia, 1987) and Rob Moore (New York Jets, 1990). Carter is less than a month away from being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Last year, the Cleveland Browns selected Josh Gordon in the second round of the Supplemental Draft. If he can avoid future suspensions, the Browns might have found themselves a very talented receiver in this other draft. This other draft has rounds like the regular draft but it's far from the event and celebration that we've all grown to love. Instead of the televised extravaganza, the Supplemental Draft picks are made by email. This draft scurries along quietly but picks still cost something. Nothing's for free in the NFL. If a team makes a selection in the Supplemental Draft, they lose that pick in the next regular draft. The 2013 NFL Supplemental Draft will take place this Thursday. Six players are eligible.

DE James Boyd, UNLV
DT Nate Holloway, UNLV
DE Toby Jackson, Central Florida
WR DeWayne Peace, Houston
WR O.J. Ross, Purdue
DB Damond Smith, South Alabama

The most prominent are the receivers Peace and Ross. Each caught over 50 passes last year. Damond Smith  has nice speed and decent size. The Green Bay Packers reportedly signed him to a try-out deal following April's draft but the NFL determined that he should instead be made eligible for the Supplemental Draft.
The defensive linemen have some skills. Any of the six could bring some interest from teams but none is a slam dunk to be drafted. All six lost their college eligibility so they all bring some issues. Some team may still take a chance. If none is drafted, each is free to sign with any team following the conclusion of the draft.