Will the Jets take action in the 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft?

The 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft will take place on July 11th. Will the New York Jets make a bid?

Every year, around this time, the NFL render their fans with a concept called the Supplemental Draft. This event accommodates players that did not enter the regular draft. In most cases, the reason lies behind such incidents as missing the filing deadline for the NFL Draft or some issues developed which affected their eligibility (academic or disciplinary matters). Mostly uneventful, this year’s draft promises to be quite different.

The draft works through blind bids using picks as bargaining chips. If you manage to acquire a player, you then forfeit your pick in the subsequent NFL’s regular draft. Apart from the second round pick traded to the Indianapolis Colts, the New York Jets have all of their 2019 picks. Unfortunately, this year’s best players are two cornerbacks and a safety. Both positions where the club spent a lot of draft capital in recent years.

Let’s check this year’s draft class.

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BEST PROSPECTS

The crown jewel of the 2018 NFL supplemental draft is Sam Beal, a cornerback from Western Michigan. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Beal could be the highest pick in the supplemental draft since Cleveland Brown’s Josh Gordon was selected with a second-round pick in 2012.

Beal has all the physical attributes to excel in the NFL. A track and field All-American in high school, his speed combined with a 6’1″ and 190 pounds frame could make the Jets wish.

Next in line is another cornerback, Adonis Alexander from Virginia Tech. He was arguably the best prospect in the supplemental draft since 2012 until Beal decided to apply. Alexander has all the right measurements to prosper in the league. He is tall and long which gives him the ability to break up passes that other cornerbacks cannot reach. The former Hokie is a versatile defender but his lack of speed was exposed a few times during 2017.

Finishing the best prospects is Brandon Bryant, a safety out of Mississippi State. In three years at college, Bryant played 37 games, totaling 157 total tackles, five interceptions and one touchdown. He has freakish athleticism and is reported that once his coaches clocked him at 4.24 in the 40 yard-dash.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero described him as a draftable talent which is good publicity for him entering the Supplemental Draft. Finally, the other two players that applied to the draft are Grand Valley State’s grinding running back Martayveus Carter and Oregon State’s speed linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu.

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All in all, it becomes hard to believe that the Jets would part ways with their picks for any of these players. Beal is the best option and with teams considering giving up a second-round pick, it seems unlikely that the Jets would take action. Realistically, the front office could go as high as a third-round pick for Beal or a seventh-round pick for Alexander if they want to add depth to those parts of the roster.