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Rob Rang
Senior Analyst
NFLDraftScout.com
June 22, 2007 - Three weeks from today NFL teams get a final opportunity to bolster their 2007 draft class. The Supplemental Draft, the NFL's summer sequel to the annual April selection process, has been scheduled for July 12th.
Teams currently have three prospects to consider.
Former Georgia cornerback [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Paul Oliver[/SIZE][/FONT], whose size (6-0, 195 pounds) and ballhawking skills (7 INTs in 15 starts) helped him earn consensus First Team SEC honors last year, is the elite talent and the only one worthy of "first day" (Rounds 1-3) consideration.
Nebraska offensive tackle, [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Chris Patrick[/SIZE][/FONT], has natural tools, and though he projects inside to guard, was effective last year as Nebraska's starting left tackle and could earn late round consideration. Morgan State's Robert Armstrong isn't the dominant force his size would indicate, but a team could be willing to gamble on the defensive tackle's 6-4, 308 frame.
Oliver earned consensus all conference honors last season, his first full campaign as a starter, and was widely regarded as one of the top cornerback prospects of the 2008 class. Receiving a third round grade from the NFL Advisory Committee he elected to return to school. Oliver opted to apply for the Supplemental draft, however, after being ruled academically ineligible this spring.
Oliver has rare size and, unlike many of the top ranked cornerbacks selected in April, the former Bulldog has impressive ball skills. Tallying three interceptions each of the past two seasons, Oliver has good instincts for the position and is a willing tackler (57 tackles in 2006). A 4.54 forty and 33.5" vertical at his June 20th Pro Day, however, confirmed scouts' worries that Oliver isn't an elite athlete. Though he enjoyed a fine statistical afternoon against Calvin Johnson (2 receptions for 13 yards), film shows a player with good, not great talent and best suited to the Cover Two scheme or perhaps even making the transition to safety.
The "buzz" around a Supplemental draft prospect is always a great indicator of his value and with twenty-seven teams present at his Pro Day, Oliver is generating high interest throughout the league.
With cornerback being a premium position, Oliver could hear his name called as early as the third round. The relatively uninspiring workout could and teams' general hesitancy to give up next year's picks, however, could push him all the way into the fifth.
Nebraska offensive lineman, Chris Patrick, is also worthy of draft consideration, albeit at a later point. Athletically speaking, Patrick grades as a mid 5th to 6th round prospect. A 14 game starter at left tackle over the past two seasons, including the final 12 of 2006, Patrick has legitimate NFL size at 6-5, 296 pounds and is effective as both a zone and power blocker in the running game. His lack of foot quickness and balance makes him only a marginally effective pass blocker, however, and a better fit inside at the NFL level. Though he lifted 225 pounds 31 times at his Pro Day Monday, Patrick doesn't consistently demonstrate this strength on the field, at least not in his pass blocking. He's also been prone to lapses in concentration, resulting in missed blocks and false starts.
No one is talking -- at least not publicly -- about the specific circumstances leading to Patrick's application into the Supplemental draft. Patrick was in fine academic standing, earning a spot on the Big 12 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in 2005. He also has no known legal issues. Speculation is rampant that Patrick and Nebraska head coach, Bill Callahan, formerly the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, clashed, leading to Patrick's early departure. Callahan's opinion, widely respected by his former NFL peers, could make or break Patrick's chances of getting drafted.
The great unknown of the 2007 Supplemental draft is Morgan State's [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Robert Armstrong[/SIZE][/FONT]. Originally signing with the University of Maryland Armstrong posted a combined 25 tackles from 2003-2004 before missing the entire 2005 season with a back injury. Armstrong was then ruled academically ineligible last year. Rather than miss a second consecutive season, Armstrong transferred to Morgan State for 2006. There, in ten games (including nine starts), Armstrong accounted for a less-than-staggering 15 total tackles. The fact that 7 of those tackles were for loss, including 5 sacks, however, has teams doing their due diligence.
On film, Armstrong appears to be talented enough to spark some interest. He flashes quickness and uses his 6-4, 308 pound frame to generate a pile in the middle -- that is, when he is motivated. Against Bowie State (2 sacks) and Norfolk State (3 sacks) Armstrong was nearly unstoppable. Against the rest of Morgan State's opponents, however -- a schedule that includes the likes of powerhouses North Carolina A&T and Delaware State -- Armstrong was equally invisible. Though teams may take a run at him as an undrafted free agent the combination of inconsistency, low level of competition, and the previous back injury make it unlikely Armstrong is drafted.
Unlike the April draft, the Supplemental draft is not a televised event. Teams make their selections via email. All teams are allowed to turn in their "cards" with the name(s) of prospects they'd like to pick along with the round to do so. Should multiple teams turn in a card with the same round, the team with the higher pick is awarded the player. The order is based on April's draft, meaning that the Oakland Raiders have the first opportunity to select one of the players. Any team using a pick on July 12th will lose their corresponding selection in next April's draft.
Senior Analyst
NFLDraftScout.com
June 22, 2007 - Three weeks from today NFL teams get a final opportunity to bolster their 2007 draft class. The Supplemental Draft, the NFL's summer sequel to the annual April selection process, has been scheduled for July 12th.
Teams currently have three prospects to consider.
Former Georgia cornerback [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Paul Oliver[/SIZE][/FONT], whose size (6-0, 195 pounds) and ballhawking skills (7 INTs in 15 starts) helped him earn consensus First Team SEC honors last year, is the elite talent and the only one worthy of "first day" (Rounds 1-3) consideration.
Nebraska offensive tackle, [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Chris Patrick[/SIZE][/FONT], has natural tools, and though he projects inside to guard, was effective last year as Nebraska's starting left tackle and could earn late round consideration. Morgan State's Robert Armstrong isn't the dominant force his size would indicate, but a team could be willing to gamble on the defensive tackle's 6-4, 308 frame.
Oliver earned consensus all conference honors last season, his first full campaign as a starter, and was widely regarded as one of the top cornerback prospects of the 2008 class. Receiving a third round grade from the NFL Advisory Committee he elected to return to school. Oliver opted to apply for the Supplemental draft, however, after being ruled academically ineligible this spring.
Oliver has rare size and, unlike many of the top ranked cornerbacks selected in April, the former Bulldog has impressive ball skills. Tallying three interceptions each of the past two seasons, Oliver has good instincts for the position and is a willing tackler (57 tackles in 2006). A 4.54 forty and 33.5" vertical at his June 20th Pro Day, however, confirmed scouts' worries that Oliver isn't an elite athlete. Though he enjoyed a fine statistical afternoon against Calvin Johnson (2 receptions for 13 yards), film shows a player with good, not great talent and best suited to the Cover Two scheme or perhaps even making the transition to safety.
The "buzz" around a Supplemental draft prospect is always a great indicator of his value and with twenty-seven teams present at his Pro Day, Oliver is generating high interest throughout the league.
With cornerback being a premium position, Oliver could hear his name called as early as the third round. The relatively uninspiring workout could and teams' general hesitancy to give up next year's picks, however, could push him all the way into the fifth.
Nebraska offensive lineman, Chris Patrick, is also worthy of draft consideration, albeit at a later point. Athletically speaking, Patrick grades as a mid 5th to 6th round prospect. A 14 game starter at left tackle over the past two seasons, including the final 12 of 2006, Patrick has legitimate NFL size at 6-5, 296 pounds and is effective as both a zone and power blocker in the running game. His lack of foot quickness and balance makes him only a marginally effective pass blocker, however, and a better fit inside at the NFL level. Though he lifted 225 pounds 31 times at his Pro Day Monday, Patrick doesn't consistently demonstrate this strength on the field, at least not in his pass blocking. He's also been prone to lapses in concentration, resulting in missed blocks and false starts.
No one is talking -- at least not publicly -- about the specific circumstances leading to Patrick's application into the Supplemental draft. Patrick was in fine academic standing, earning a spot on the Big 12 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll in 2005. He also has no known legal issues. Speculation is rampant that Patrick and Nebraska head coach, Bill Callahan, formerly the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, clashed, leading to Patrick's early departure. Callahan's opinion, widely respected by his former NFL peers, could make or break Patrick's chances of getting drafted.
The great unknown of the 2007 Supplemental draft is Morgan State's [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Robert Armstrong[/SIZE][/FONT]. Originally signing with the University of Maryland Armstrong posted a combined 25 tackles from 2003-2004 before missing the entire 2005 season with a back injury. Armstrong was then ruled academically ineligible last year. Rather than miss a second consecutive season, Armstrong transferred to Morgan State for 2006. There, in ten games (including nine starts), Armstrong accounted for a less-than-staggering 15 total tackles. The fact that 7 of those tackles were for loss, including 5 sacks, however, has teams doing their due diligence.
On film, Armstrong appears to be talented enough to spark some interest. He flashes quickness and uses his 6-4, 308 pound frame to generate a pile in the middle -- that is, when he is motivated. Against Bowie State (2 sacks) and Norfolk State (3 sacks) Armstrong was nearly unstoppable. Against the rest of Morgan State's opponents, however -- a schedule that includes the likes of powerhouses North Carolina A&T and Delaware State -- Armstrong was equally invisible. Though teams may take a run at him as an undrafted free agent the combination of inconsistency, low level of competition, and the previous back injury make it unlikely Armstrong is drafted.
Unlike the April draft, the Supplemental draft is not a televised event. Teams make their selections via email. All teams are allowed to turn in their "cards" with the name(s) of prospects they'd like to pick along with the round to do so. Should multiple teams turn in a card with the same round, the team with the higher pick is awarded the player. The order is based on April's draft, meaning that the Oakland Raiders have the first opportunity to select one of the players. Any team using a pick on July 12th will lose their corresponding selection in next April's draft.
