2018 Supplemental Draft could bear fruit for Chiefs
By John McCarty
Three prominent names have entered upcoming NFL Supplemental Draft that should merit interest from Chiefs.
Every spring, the NFL conducts an annual supplemental draft. Players that have become ineligible for the upcoming season after the regular spring draft are permitted to petition the NFL for eligibility in the annual summertime draft. Most often there are issues with grades or being dismissed from the team in the spring are reasons why a player goes into the supplemental draft.
The selection process is very different from the normal draft. Teams will submit bids (draft pick they are willing to use on a given player), and the winning team that ‘selects’ a player uses (forfeits) the next spring draft’s selection in the spring draft. In the summer of 2012, the Cleveland Browns used their 2013 second round selection to grab Josh Gordon. In 1992, the Kansas City Chiefs used their 1993 second round selection on Florida DT Darren Mickell.
In 2018, there are reportedly three players seeking eligibility in the 2018 Supplemental Draft, two cornerbacks in Western Michigan’s Sam Beal, Virginia Tech’s Adonis Alexander and Mississippi State safety Brandon Bryant. All three players are likely to be selected and could even be selected early. For the Chiefs, all three players could also be potentially interesting additions who could aid the organization.
Sam Beal (Western Michigan) 6-1, 185
- 32 games played
- 2 interceptions
- 92 tackles
- Eligible for Supplemental Draft due to academic issues.
Good size, physical corner comes from top MAC program. Good ball skills betrayed by what appear to be bad hands (former wide receiver apparently for a reason). Not nearly the physical presence tackling as he needs or should be. Initially projected as a top five corner prospect for the ’19 draft, Beal likely will be selected in the second or third round.
Adonis Alexander (Virginia Tech) 6-2, 195
- 32 games played
- 7 interceptions
- 125 tackles
- Eligible for Supplemental Draft due to academic issues
Over-sized, physical cornerback that can play both on and off the ball. Has experience playing against much better competition then Beal in the ACC. Has issues with catchup/make up speed and has had issues ‘following the rules’ to a degree at Virginia Tech. Will he eventually have to move to safety? Alexander likely will warrant a middle round selection.
Either player would make a great addition to the Chiefs. Something to keep in mind, that to select the player, the Chiefs or any team would surrender a draft pick in 2019. The Chiefs would get an entire year of development and training on a player before they technically have to ‘pay the bill’. Instead of a rookie in 2019, you are working with a second year player.
Next: Analyzing the Chiefs UDFAs and their roster chances
For a regime that has shown a want to be aggressive for the sake of being aggressive, the Chiefs are in a great position to add cornerback depth to a position in desperate need of long term depth. (This fine publication has addressed that recently). The Chiefs have two second round picks and a third in 2019 that could be used towards Beal and maybe the third towards Alexander.