Safety Jalen Thompson enters 2019 NFL Supplemental Draft

ByMatt Conner|
SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 28: David Montgomery #32 of the Iowa State Cyclones breaks a tackle by Jalen Thompson #34 of the Washington State Cougars for a touchdown in the third quarter during the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome on December 28, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 28: David Montgomery #32 of the Iowa State Cyclones breaks a tackle by Jalen Thompson #34 of the Washington State Cougars for a touchdown in the third quarter during the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome on December 28, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

The NFL’s Supplemental Draft class just got a whole lot richer with the addition of Washington State safety Jalen Thompson.

If the executives in NFL front offices have been shrugging toward the 2019 NFL Supplemental Draft class for the last week or so, we wouldn’t blame them. So far, the players applying to be taken in the mid-July draft have been fringe prospects whose NFL fortunes likely depend on a single team believing they can turn him into a contributor at some point.

That sentiment changed completely with the news that Washington State safety Jalen Thompson would enter the draft.

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Ian Rapoport learned over the weekend that Thompson’s eligibility to finish out his collegiate career with the Cougars would not be granted. That means he will instead move ahead with his plans to pursue a professional football career a bit early. That might make him greener than some scouts and general managers might like, but Thompson doesn’t have a choice at this point.

Thompson is easily the most NFL-ready prospect of the handful who have already joined the mix: Syracuse linebacker Shyheim Cullen, West Virginia wide receiver Marcus Simms, Northland JuCo tight end Devonaire Clarington.

Thompson comes with plenty of versatile experience through three seasons at Washington State. He’s played cornerback and safety for the Cougars over the last three seasons and was already considered one of the Pac-12’s best defensive backs last season. Another year would have sharpened his skills and given him that much more experience as a centerfielder in the secondary, but NFL teams should be able to project enough to appreciate what he can bring, even if the edges are rougher.

The availability of Thompson is an interesting predicament for a team like the Chiefs. The team just locked up two players in likely starting roles via free agency and the draft in Tyrann Mathieu and Juan Thornhill. That said, the Chiefs have no problems giving multiple safeties looks in sub packages, which are actually run a majority of the time. That’s equaled solid playing time for names like Daniel Sorensen in the past.

The Chiefs still employ Sorensen as well as Armani Watts,  coming off of a season-ending injury, and Jordan Lucas, who impressed in stretches last season. Is there room for another young talent?

If the Chiefs put in a claim for Thompson in the supplemental draft, it will likely be at a round/level where they would be getting a steal. There’s no major need on the roster to address, which means even if Brett Veach likes Thompson’s; game, there’s no urgency to grab him compared with other teams who have better draft position.

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