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Who was the best player ever selected in the NFL Supplemental Draft?

Who was the best player ever selected in the NFL Supplemental Draft?
Who was the best player ever selected in the NFL Supplemental Draft?

Ranking the five best players ever selected in the NFL Supplemental Draft is somewhat subjective, but based on NFL accomplishments, longevity, Pro Bowls, All-Pro selections, and overall impact, this would be my top five:

1. Cris Carter, WR (1987)

  • Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 4th round.
  • Only Supplemental Draft pick to reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
  • 8-time Pro Bowler.
  • 2-time First-Team All-Pro.
  • Finished with 1,101 receptions, 13,899 yards, and 130 touchdowns. 

There really isn’t much debate about No. 1.

2. Bernie Kosar, QB (1985)

  • Drafted by the Cleveland Browns in one of the most famous draft maneuvers in NFL history.
  • Led Cleveland to three AFC Championship Games.
  • Pro Bowl quarterback and one of the Browns’ most beloved players. 

His career wasn’t Hall of Fame caliber, but he was a franchise quarterback for much of the 1980s.

3. Jamal Williams, DT (1998)

  • Selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 2nd round.
  • 3-time First-Team All-Pro.
  • Dominant nose tackle and centerpiece of several elite Chargers defenses. 

Williams is arguably the best defensive player ever taken in the Supplemental Draft.

4. Josh Gordon, WR (2012)

  • Drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 2nd round.
  • Led the NFL in receiving yards in 2013 despite playing only 14 games.
  • First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler. 

Off-field issues prevented an even greater career, but his peak was spectacular.

5. Ahmad Brooks, LB (2006)

  • Drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 3rd round.
  • Later became a cornerstone of the San Francisco 49ers defense.
  • Pro Bowler with 55 career sacks and two All-Pro Second-Team selections. 

A long, productive career as one of the NFL’s better edge defenders of the early 2010s.

Honorable Mentions

  • Rob Moore (2-time Pro Bowl WR)
  • Bobby Humphrey (2-time Pro Bowl RB)
  • Mike Wahle (Pro Bowl guard)
  • Terrelle Pryor (successful position switch)
  • Jalen Thompson (recent standout selection) 

Here is a list of every player ever selected in the Supplemental Draft:

YearPlayerPositionRoundTeamCollege
1977Al HunterRB4thSeahawksNotre Dame
1978Johnnie DirdenWR10thOilersSam Houston State
1978Rod ConnorsRB12th49ersUSC
1979Rod StewartRB6thBillsKentucky
1980Matthew TeagueDE7thFalconsPrairie View A&M
1980Billy MullinsWR9thChargersUSC
1981Dave WilsonQB1stSaintsIllinois
1981Chy DavidsonWR11thPatriotsRhode Island
1982Kevin RobinsonCB9thLionsNorth Carolina A&T
1985Bernie KosarQB1stBrownsMiami (FL)
1985Roosevelt SnipesRB8th49ersFlorida State
1986Charles CrawfordRB7thEaglesOklahoma State
1987Brian BosworthLB1stSeahawksOklahoma
1987Dan SileoDT3rdBuccaneersMiami (FL)
1987Cris CarterWR4thEaglesOhio State
1988Ryan BetheaWR5thVikingsSouth Carolina
1989Steve WalshQB1stCowboysMiami (FL)
1989Timm RosenbachQB1stCardinalsWashington State
1989Bobby HumphreyRB1stBroncosAlabama
1989Brett YoungDB8thBillsOregon
1989Mike LowmanRB12thCowboysCoffeyville Community College
1990Rob MooreWR1stJetsSyracuse
1990Willie WilliamsTE9thCardinalsLSU
1992Dave BrownQB1stGiantsDuke
1992Darren MickellDE2ndChiefsFlorida
1994Tito WootenCB4thGiantsNortheast Louisiana
1994John DavisTE5thCowboysEmporia State
1995Darren BensonDT3rdCowboysTrinity Valley Community College
1998Mike WahleOT2ndPackersNavy
1998Jamal WilliamsNT2ndChargersOklahoma State
1999J’Juan CherryCB4thPatriotsArizona State
2002Milford BrownG6thTexansFlorida State
2003Tony HollingsRB2ndTexansGeorgia Tech
2005Manuel WrightDT5thDolphinsUSC
2006Ahmad BrooksLB3rdBengalsVirginia
2007Paul OliverS4thChargersGeorgia
2007Jared GaitherOT5thRavensMaryland
2009Jeremy JarmonDE3rdRedskinsKentucky
2010Harvey UngaFB7thBearsBYU
2010Josh BrentNT7thCowboysIllinois
2011Terrelle PryorQB3rdRaidersOhio State
2012Josh GordonWR2ndBrownsBaylor
2015Isaiah BattleOT5thRamsClemson
2018Sam BealCB3rdGiantsWestern Michigan
2018Adonis AlexanderCB6thRedskinsVirginia Tech
2019Jalen ThompsonS5thCardinalsWashington State

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