While it has been postponed, it still seems the NFL Supplemental Draft will inevitably happen. It should, as five players are waiting for the reschedule of the draft to see if they can garner some interest and get themselves on an NFL team, despite it being very late in the roster decision making process.
As many as three players have a shot at getting drafted in the Supplemental Draft, which would be the most since 1989. Only twice in the past ten years has two players been drafted in the Supplemental Draft in the same year.
Update: Pryor now included, see bottom for his report
Michael McAdoo, DE, North Carolina
McAdoo is a formerly of North Carolina who was the most recent player to be ruled eligible for the Supplemental Draft. The defensive end was an impressive rotation pass rusher as a sophomore, and at 6’6 and 270, he of course was compared to Julius Peppers. But after being ruled permanently ineligible from North Carolina for academic misconduct, his college career was cut short.
McAdoo showed elite pass rushing potential, having the length and fluidity to develop his pass rush moves in the future. He never got the chance to be a consistent starter for the Tar Heels thanks to the talent on the defence, but did showcase the ability to out-match offensive tackles regularly. He was set to be a starter as a junior, but thanks to the aforementioned ruling by North Carolina, he never got his shot.
He’s very similar as a prospect to Jason Pierre-Paul in that he has the size, length, and raw athletic ability to be a very good NFL defensive end. However, they differ because while Pierre-Paul didn’t show a ton for scouts outside of his junior season, McAdoo hasn’t shown he can match-up with offensive tackles over the course of an entire college football season.
Thanks to his size and skill set that reminds of Pierre Paul and former Tar Heel Julius Peppers, I’d be more surprising if he doesn’t get selected in the Supplemental Draft. A team that has the luxury to develop defensive line talent like Minnesota, Chicago, or Philadelphia could take a shot on him, as well as a team that could use the depth this year and for the future like Denver and St. Louis. Either way, being a top three NFL draft talent, a 4th or 5th round pick should be what McAdoo goes for.
Possible Suitors: Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, St. Louis Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles
My Pick: St. Louis Rams in 5th
Caleb King, RB, Georgia
A combination of lingering injury concerns, especially in his lower body, and character and mental make-up concerns are enough to be cautious about expecting much from Caleb King at the next level. A once highly thought-of recruit with lots of promise, he failed to both improve mentally as well as a runner, and his potential may still not be realized.
His size, power, body control, and vision as a runner gives reason for hope, especially since the other facets of his game have held him down thus far. He does take some time to pick up steam as a runner, but he can plow through defenders, break through arm tackles and poorly positioned linebackers, and pick up 4-5 yards easily at times. He can angle his body in the box well, angle behind his blockers, and ride the walls to big gains. But his lack of quick feet outside of the pocket limit how shifty he can be in the open field and how explosive he can really be.
His body control and shoulder suddenness as an athlete can allow him to spin and juke defenders in space, but he’s unable to cut two or three times with fluidity and speed, and needs to be in a lot of space or power through defenders to gain yards down the field. His receiving ability as a running back is very lackluster, and though he does seem to be confident in catching passes, he lacks the willingness and route running ability to make himself a weapon there. Also, his pass blocking ability is there, but he seems to lack the developed technique, motivation, or instincts to really be successful there.
While his lack of flexibility and slowish feet are some areas he can’t really improve over the course of his career, some of his issues as a runner are with technique. He hasn’t seemed to really improve over his career which puts his coachability into question, but he can develop into a better than average one cut, zone blocking runner at the next level if he chooses to develop. He’s a 5th or 6th round talent in the draft, having an outside chance of being selected in the Supplemental Draft.
Possible Suitors: Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers
My Pick: Detroit Lions in 7th
Tracy Wilson, S, North Illinois
Wilson was injured much of last year, but showed aggressiveness when attacking the ball at the line, and has the hips to go sideline to sideline and up/down the field. The lack of playing time last year thanks to injury really hurt his chances of getting on serious NFL radars, as he showed signs of dynamic potential as a sophomore. Barring a team seeing an encouraging workout, he’ll have a very outside of getting selected. Still, I think there will be a small market for him to at least get a tryout and practice squad chance after the Supplemental Draft is over.
Possible Suitors: Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons
My Pick: Atlanta Falcons Undrafted
Torez Jones, CB, Western Carolina
Jones is a playmaker in the secondary, quick, solid hands, but must be more physical. Jones got a fringe NFL Draft grade from us coming into the season, and now he has a very outside shot of even making a roster once the draft is over, nonetheless get drafted.
Kennan Mace, DE, Lindenwood
Mace was with the Allen Wranglers of the IFL before asked for his release to enter this draft. He was on the Cowboys practice squad, but likely was asked to be released by the NFL so he could enter Supplemental Draft. He was not given an NFL grade by Optimum Scouting. Maybe the Cowboys saw something they liked, but odds are he’s not an NFL player.
***Terrelle Pryor, QB/WR, Ohio State***
Despite me not feeling Pryor has NFL ability at the quarterback position, I would not have been surprised at all to see him come out in game one next year for Ohio State and play at a Cam Newton level if he fine-tuned his technique, as his footwork and confidence in the pocket is really all that separates him from the 2011 #1 overall pick. I’m not sure that he’ll ever take to receiver coaching well enough to be a front line player, and unfortunately, I fear that his outstanding talent and potential will be wasted if he doesn’t land in the perfect system.
Pryor’s footwork, throwing motion, dropback, play reading, check downs, safety look off, touch, and accuracy on the move are not near the NFL level right now. Obviously he has the athletic ability that teams now seem to covet, and he very well could develop (substantially needed) into a potential fringe NFL starter. He’s very far behind every 2011 and likely ever 2012 quarterback prospect now, and isn’t worth more than a 6th rounder as a quarterback prospect.
UPDATE: Pryor has since said that he is open to playing receiver. If that is the case AND HE’S COMMITTED (big IF) then he’s a 3rd or 4th round prospect. Odds are he goes someplace in-between his potential receiver value, and his quarterback value (7th)
Potential Suitors: Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Oakland Raiders, and Cleveland Browns
My Pick: Cleveland Browns in 4th Round
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