NFL Supplemental Draft 2019 – July 10, 2019
Arizona selected former Washington St safety Jalen Thompson in today’s NFL Supplemental Draft. The Cardinals used a 5th round pick to take Thompson who was a late entrant in the supplemental draft after the NCAA stripped him of his eligibility for testing positive for a banned substance.
No other player was selected in today’s supplemental draft. The Jaguars quickly signed West Virginia receiver Marcus Simms. Other players, Syracuse OLB Shy Cullen, Northland WR/TE Devonaire Clarington and St. Francis of Illinois CB Bryant Perry are all free agents and able to sign with any team.
Prospects for NFL Supplemental Draft 2019
These players are eligible for the NFL Supplemental Draft after not declaring for entry in the NFL Draft 2019.
Draft Insiders’ Scouting Reports
Safety Jalen Thompson #34 5-10 190 Washington St – Sp. 4.50 Rating 70
Athletic safety had an unheralded career in the Pac 12, starting since midway in his sophomore season. Earned some Pac 12 honorable mention after his junior season. Adequate size and good speed with reliable tackling ability and developing coverage skills to challenge for an NFL roster spot. In run support, he reads the play nicely and uses his arms well to keep blockers off to finish. As a tackler, he has progressed on his initial reads to react and get into proper positioning to finish. Lacks powerful frame to deliver big hits, though is becoming a solid wrap-up tackler and consistent at the line with improving angles to the ball. Athletic talent to be a pro defender, but still has key areas to improve like pass coverage to compete for a roster spot. Good 4.48 speed and the range to make plays at the sidelines. In pass coverage, he can retain well in transition in man situations with flexible hips when he makes reads the route properly. At times, he gives too much separation and lacks the elite recovery speed to make up for mistakes. In man coverage, he can run with fast receivers, but needs refinement in positioning, hand usage and leverage. Bites on multiple moves and still raw in route and overall play recognition. Needs better technique and footwork to plant and drive on the ball. Needs reps in reading the QB and routes better to be ready to compete for time in dime package. At his pro day, he ran in the 4.50 range with a 33.5” VL, 10’4” BJ and 4.16 shuttle. Good positional drills for a solid overall effort. Makeup to compete for a role as special teams’ defender where his speed and tackling should earn time. Good tools to develop especially in coverage and play the high safety role. Must develop better ball skills to start, though has the burst to matchup with fast receivers. Good 3rd day addition with skills to produce on special teams. Fine versatile prospect with talent to continue to improve in deficient areas. Make it grade, though a marginal top 150 prospect in main draft.
Wideout Marcus Simms #8 6-0 190 West Virginia – Sp. 4.45 Rating 65
Athletic senior showed fine playmaking ability as a receiver in a receiving corps that included Gary Jennings and David Sills. Simms has a lean frame with good movement skills to get into his routes easily and run with the ball after the reception. Good combination of running skills and speed with a high average per catch. Possesses deceptive speed and gets on top of corners quickly. He is adept at not allowing corners playing press to get a jam on him. He does a fine job of gathering and exploding out of his breaks without a loss of speed, to create consistent separation. Tough to compete well for 50-50 balls. He shows the ability to adjust in midair to off line passes with success. He shows good alertness and football intelligence and will work back toward the quarterback when the play breaks down. While he is already above average in speed, when he is tracking the ball in flight, he shows an extra gear to run under it. Tough matchup for most college corners with his triangle numbers and physicality. At his pro day, he checked in under 6’ and 188 lbs. and ran a 4.45 time with 12 reps. Added a 36” VL, a 10’3” BJ, a 6.91three cone and 4.19 shuttle. Good overall speed/size height/weight. Solid role player with nice level of development to start as both a slot and outside receiver. Capable of playing in three and four wideout sets in time. Boom or bust prospect with the talent to surprise and carve a niche in a pro passing game. Some prior off the field issues. Risky 3rd day addition with interesting upside and definite talent to make it and become a solid contributor with development.
