The Best NFL Supplemental Draft Picks of All-Time

Most of the time the NFL supplemental draft is ignored by football fans, but every once in awhile its been known to produce some solid players.

For those who aren’t familiar with the process, the supplemental draft is held later in the off-season to accommodate players who weren’t able to participate in the regular draft. There are a number of reasons for this ranging from just simply missing the deadline to file to not being eligible due to either academic or disciplinary issues. For example, Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon was a supplemental pick because he was dismissed from Baylor for failing marijuana tests.

While it doesn’t hold near the fanfare or hope that the main draft does for fans, history has shown that teams willing to take a risk in it can, from time to time come up with a surprising gem. Here is an overview of some of the best NFL supplemental draft picks since its inception in 1977.

Mike Wahle (Green Bay Packers, 1998)

His entry came after a suspension was handed down by the NCAA for a positive steroids test. Not exactly befitting a young man who went to Navy. Still, the undaunted offensive tackle got a second chance from the Packers and didn’t waste it. He became a capable starter for seven seasons in Green Bay and then made All-Pro when he joined the Carolina Panthers in 2005.

Ahmad Brooks (Cincinnati Bengals, 2006)

It’s unclear to this day exactly why Brooks was dismissed from the University of Virginia but it was some sort of conduct detrimental for the team. As a result he applied for early entry to the pros and was taken on a flier by the Cincinnati Bengals. Things didn’t work out during his two seasons there and he tried to make a go of it in San Francisco instead. There he became a Pro Bowler in 2013 while helping the 49ers reach three-straight NFC championship games.

Rob Moore (New York Jets, 1990)

Given the avalanche of wide receivers who became hot names in the 1990s, it’s easy to forget guys like Rob Moore. After missing the deadline to declare for the draft, he became a 1st round supplemental pick of the New York Jets. Despite dealing with quarterback problems he became a reliable receiver for them, reaching the Pro Bowl in 1994. Then when went to the equally destitute Arizona Cardinals, he was even better, posting over 1,500 yards in 1997 and reaching his second Pro Bowl.

Jamal Williams (San Diego Chargers, 1998)

Academics was a big issue for Williams at Oklahoma State and it affected his elgibility for his senior season. So he chose to go pro early. It took some time for Chargers fans to get an idea of how good the nose tackle was, but the arrival of head coach Marty Schottenheimer brought it to light. He would reach three-straight Pro Bowls and help the team reach an AFC championship in 2007.

Bernie Kosar (Cleveland Browns, 1985)

The situation with Miami star Bernie Kosar was fascinating. Most expected him to be the #1 pick in the 1985 draft, but in a crafty ploy by the Cleveland Browns, they convinced him to wait and declare for the supplemental draft instead, where they held the top pick via a trade with Buffalo. Being a Cleveland-native, Kosar was thrilled for a chance to take over his hometown team. With him under center the Browns went to three AFC championship games between 1986 and 1989. He made the Pro Bowl once and later earned a Super Bowl ring as a backup in Dallas.

Cris Carter (Philadelphia Eagles, 1987)

There is no arguing that Cris Carter is the best NFL supplemental draft pick ever. After all, he’s the only one to reach the Hall of Fame. The Ohio State receiver made the poor decision to sign with an agent before he was permitted, resulting in his dismissal from the team. The Eagles took a chance on him in the 4th round and he became one of their biggest receiving threats in the late 1980s. However, substance abuse problems saw him get kicked off the team. If not for a flier taken by the Minnesota Vikings, he might be just another blip on the screen. Instead he parlayed the second chance into eight Pro Bowls.

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