Since 2009, the Supplemental Draft has seen seven players selected, including four players picked using top-four round picks. After a two-year hiatus from a selection, the last being the infamous Josh Gordon selection, it looks as though we should have at least one pick this year.
The Supplemental Draft is for players who have a valid reason for leaving college entering their senior season, either because they were kicked out of school or have no remaining eligibility. Teams have a silent auction for these players, putting up a draft pick as their bid, with the highest bidder (highest draft pick) getting the player. If two teams bid the same draft pick, the tiebreaker is the 2015 Draft order. The winning team sacrifices that draft pick in the following year’s draft.
Isaiah Battle of Clemson is the best of the crop, and he may be viewed as a potential starter option at some point during his rookie year, making a top-four round selection highly possible. But at least two more should gain some NFL interest with either a draft pick or a signing afterwards.
The Supplemental Draft is on July 9th.
- Isaiah Battle, OT, Clemson
Leaving Clemson likely due to a mix of family reasons and failed drug tests in the past, Isaiah Battle is the only player in this supplemental draft that is a surefire draft pick in most drafts based on his 2014 season. With plus length at 6’6, 290, he immediately looks the part of an outside lineman in the NFL.
On film, he plays with decent bend and first step contact, sinking well enough to drive initially with his hands and keep his lower half balanced through first contact in pass protection sets. He’d fit best in a quick pass protection due to his plus pivot control and quick hand exchange to limit quick rush moves. His kick slide footwork and patience is impressive and controlled, and his ability to sink and drive in pass protection with control surprised on film.
Battle does play a bit too high for long driving run blocks, but does step and make contact at first at the second level. He meets with his hands well before engaging blockers and adjusts fluidly to keep his block controlled, but doesn’t play with violent hands or dominating force, and could be a more nasty blocker in the run game.
He’ll need to continue to fill out his frame, play with more explosiveness in his lower half, and continue to be decisive as a blocker in pass protection sets. While he doesn’t have elite upside, Battle doesn’t look far off from being an NFL starter by season’s end, especially if he lands in an offense that works more 3-step drops.
Projected Round: 4th
Project Teams: Atlanta, Denver, Seattle
Player Comparison: Demar Dotson/Matt McCants
- Darius Caldwell, DE/OLB, West Georgia
Academics kept him from playing at the Division I level multiple times, but it’s clear on film that Caldwell could have been a solid Power Five conference player, if not a starter, in the right situation. At 6’5 and around 235, he’s a long very active edge player who could stay at defensive end as he continues to bulk up.
He generates solid push off the edge, staying low enough to get initial drive, but needs to play lower and sink his hips quicker off the snap to have the same success against NFL talent. Best as a build-up rusher and on inside stunts to eat up space, Caldwell’s activeness and motor is a major plus for NFL teams hoping to land a special teams/long-term rotational contributor.
He produced at a high level in college and had the talent to play at the Division I level, so NFL interest should be high enough to consider a draft pick. 3-4 teams that like longer edge players make the most sense for his interest, despite his Pro Day struggles, and he could be a solid 2016 player after a year on a practice squad.
Projected Round: 7th
Project Team: Arizona, Houston, New Orleans
Player Comparison: Aaron Lynch
- Adrian Wilkins, KR/PR, North Carolina Central
Despite being a 5’8 receiver who’s likely a returner only, Wilkins has a very outside chance of a draft pick due to his top-end speed, burst after his cuts, and his production at the FCS level as a returner.
He had five return touchdowns in 2013 (three on kickoff, two off punts), and almost another touchdown in 2014 (91 yard return) despite teams clearly limiting his opportunities. He’ll only be a fit for teams in need of a returner, but he’ll likely get a camp tryout to be just that, with Brandon Banks being his best-case scenario. As a receiver, he has some screen and short-area route upside as a 4th or 5th option.
Projected Round: Priority Free Agent
Project Team: Tennessee, San Diego, Cincinnati
Player Comparison: Brandon Banks
- Dalvon Stuckey, DT, West Georgia
While Stuckey also had Division I interest in the past, including with Florida State in their 2012 recruiting class, he hasn’t nearly intrigued as much as Caldwell has. A nose tackle/run-focused 3-technique at the next level, he wasn’t all that dominating/consistent of a player at Division II West Georgia, so he has to hope for a practice squad opportunity for a year and slide into a rotational role at best at the next level.
Projected Round: Priority Free Agent/CFL
Project Team: Washington, St. Louis
Player Comparison: Jerrell Powe
- Sean McQuillian, TE, UConn
A starter last season for the Huskies, McQullian has some seam ability as a pass catcher, finishing catches very well in that area and on the perimeter. His athletic upside is limited and doesn’t offer great length for NFL teams (around 6’3 and 250), likely a fit for NFL teams as an H-Back.
He doesn’t offer much upside as an NFL blocker, not a drive blocker and being an engage-only option on the perimeter. However, that doesn’t seem all that likely, and CFL interest may be his best bet.
Projected Round: CFL
- Eric Eiland, OLB, Houston
A former Toronto Blue Jays baseball second-round draft pick in 2007, Eiland is a 27 year old NFL hopeful who offered some edge production for the Houston Cougars last season. He’s not a great edge-playing athlete, has a slight frame that doesn’t look to be able to bulk up to NFL level, and may only have CFL opportunities as a best case scenario. Maybe the Toronto Argonauts have some interest?
Projected Round: CFL
- Kevin Short, CB, Kansas/Fort Scott Community College
Short transferred from Fort Scott Community College to Kansas in 2013 after a 10 interception two-season career. He redshirted his first year at Kansas and didn’t play in year two, so I was unable to watch film on him. However, barring a really impressive set of workout numbers, it’d be surprising for more than one or two NFL teams to have any interest in bringing him in to a training camp.
Projected Round: CFL
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