NFL Supplemental Draft 2012: Comparing Josh Gordon's Risk to Terrelle Pryor

Josh Gordon is the only prospect carrying a relevant reputation into the NFL Supplemental Draft this year. TCU running back Ed Wesley has one foot in the conversation, but he isn't fast enough for his size (5'7'').

Gordon is going to be the first, and possibly only, player off the board in this year's draft process. Teams won't give away a draft pick for anyone other than Gordon because of his considerable potential.

Last year Terrelle Pryor was the flavor of the month. His athleticism made scouts drool, and the Oakland Raiders made the predictable selection in the third round.

Let's look at each player and compare the risk accompanying each.

Josh Gordon

Baylor head coach Art Briles suspended Gordon following a marijuana charge in 2010, according to Yahoo! Sports. This prompted Gordon to transfer to Utah, but he never played a game.

If he had we wouldn't be talking about him right now.

Gordon is a tantalizing blend of size and speed. His long strides give him the ability stretch the field vertically. He won't consistently blow the top off the defense, but he's a threat to get behind a lazy corner.

His 6'4'' 200-pound frame gives him a chance to be a red-zone threat. He must work on his hands in traffic and his overall toughness, but Gordon is extremely athletic.

Wide receivers like Gordon get taken in the NFL Draft all the time. If he hadn't been in trouble and ideally going to college, he probably would have been selected in the spring.

He doesn't carry the same risks Pryor does. Wide receiver doesn't require the same thought process as a quarterback, and the transition isn't the same.

Terrelle Pryor

Pryor decided to enter the supplemental draft last season after getting suspended from Ohio State. His potential was immediately murky.

He just isn't a guy you look at and think "that's an NFL quarterback." He has a rare blend of size and speed for the position, but he lacks the necessary intangibles. Pryor's decision-making and pocket presence were far cries from what's needed to succeed in the NFL.

You may not consider him a huge "risk", but better options are usually available in the third round this year. Quarterbacks like Russell Wilson and Nick Foles lasted until the third and several other solid players were available as well.

Pryor was a typical Oakland Raiders pick. He's big, fast and athletic. No one really knows what the finished product will look like, but he has potential.

Considering his position, Pryor is the bigger risk compared to Gordon. He has to learn a position that he never really learned in the first place. Gordon only has one year of real college experience, but he can get by on athleticism doing what he does.