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July 10, 2007
Supplemental thoughts
The NFL’s supplemental draft is scheduled for Thursday, with Maryland offensive lineman Jared Gaither, Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver and Nebraska offensive lineman Chris Patrick the top players available.
The Patriots have not been awarded a player in the supplemental draft under head coach Bill Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli (2000-present).
Here are a few things that the Patriots -- and all NFL clubs -- must consider regarding the supplemental draft:
1) Body of work. Unlike most of the prospects selected in the regular NFL entry draft, those in the supplemental draft don’t go through the same Combine process. Because of this, there is not the same type of body of work on which to assess the player, which creates more risk in making an accurate projection.
2) Off-field considerations. Players eligible for the supplemental draft have had their situations change since April’s draft, and in some cases, the change is something that could raise concern among NFL clubs (i.e. college eligibility).
3) Future considerations. A team that makes a selection in the supplemental draft gives up that corresponding selection in the 2008 NFL entry draft. Teams generally don’t like to have big holes in their draft board, which could limit flexibility for draft-day trades.
4) Draft format. Because all 32 teams are focusing on a small group of players (this year is a 10-member class), it creates a dynamic where a team could be interested in a player, but not at the price it would take to acquire him. An example of this came last year, when the 49ers were reportedly willing to give up a fourth-round supplemental draft choice for linebacker Ahmad Brooks (San Francisco Chronicle blog), but the Bengals swooped in by bidding a third.
5) Financial concerns. Any team that selects a player in the supplemental draft must fit that player into its rookie salary allocation. The Patriots, for example, have an allocation of $3.68 million to sign their nine draft choices. That number wouldn’t change, even if the Patriots selected a player in the supplemental draft.
Posted By:
mreiss | Time: 08:12:27 AM |
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