Panthers: Supplemental NFL Draft prospects
A few NFL supplemental draft candidates may draw interest from the Carolina Panthers this year…
The annual NFL supplemental draft often comes and goes without much fanfare from the Carolina Panthers or any other team, despite occasionally allowing someone to grab a future star. Four NFL Hall of Fame members have been selected as a result of supplemental drafts, although three were a part of the USFL and CFL collapsed additions in 1984 – Steve Young, Reggie White and Gary Zimmerman. Chris Carter is the only player selected via the traditional supplemental draft to eventually earn a gold jacket.
Created for players who may have initially missed the NFL filing period for the traditional draft due to legal or eligibility issues, the supplemental draft allows teams the right to bid for candidates. If a team is interested in a particular player they put up a draft pick from the upcoming year as the price in which they are willing to pay.
For example, if the Panthers were interested in Player X and willing to part with next year’s Round 4 pick, then they place a bid. Player X is then awarded to the team with the highest forfeited draft pick, with ties essentially broken by order of finish from the preceding season (worse record gets the prospect).
Carter was selected in 1987 after being suspended for his senior year of collegiate football for signing with an agent. The Philadelphia Eagles parted with a fourth-round pick for his services and Carter would eventually go on to become a Hall of Fame player. He was the only player taken that year as traditionally only one, if any, players are selected.
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No team has forfeited a draft pick since 2015 but Carolina may be tempted at taking a chance on one of three high profile defensive backs eligible this year – cornerbacks Adonis Alexander (Virginia Tech), Sam Beal (Western Michigan) and safety Brandon Bryant (Mississippi State). All are drawing significant interest as Bryant worked out for 14 teams (not including the Panthers) and Alexander had all but six NFL teams represented for his private session.
With questions at both positions in the defensive backfield for Carolina, parting with a pick in 2019 may not be a bad option for any of these prospects. The Panthers are in line to receive at least one third-round compensatory pick next year (for losing guard Andrew Norwell) and potentially another later selection depending on the future of wide receiver Charles Johnson.
An interesting scenario and one to keep an eye on when the NFL supplemental draft commences on July 11 next month.