Don’t Tell The Cleveland Browns Supplemental Draft Doesn’t Matter
By Erik Lambert
Aug 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon (12) during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
It obviously pales in comparison to the actual NFL draft. The supplemental draft has earned a reputation for being misbehaved stepchild. It’s a selection process that typically involves players who failed to file on time for the April version or ran into problems academically or off the field. In crude terms they were too stupid inside or outside of the classroom.
This has led to the stigma that the entire process is pointless and never really yields much in the way of results. That isn’t entirely true, and if there is one team across the vast NFL landscape that would have good cause to defend it to the death, it would be the Cleveland Browns.
Here is something to put it in perspective. Since 1977, the supplemental draft has produced 43 players in the league and eight have reached the Pro Bowl. Two of those eight players were taken by the Browns.
The first came in 1985, when some deft maneuvering by then GM Ernie Accorsi landed quarterback Bernie Kosar, who became a hometown hero and led the Browns to three AFC title games from 1986 to 1989.
A full 27 years later, Cleveland made their second ever pick. This time they took a chance on Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon.
After a solid start as a rookie in 2012 with 50 catches for 805 yards and five touchdowns, he took the league by storm a year later when he led all receivers with 1,646 yards on 87 catches for nine touchdowns. Keep in mind this was with the likes of Brian Hoyer and Brandon Weeden throwing him the football. If not for some tragically bad decisions off the field that resulted in a year-long suspension, he could be building his case for being the best receiver in football.
Regardless, it’s proof that anytime there is an opportunity to acquire a young player with talent, teams should feel comfortable with the risk because with a little luck it can pay off in huge ways.
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