2015 NFL Supplemental Draft Offers Intrigue with Select Few Likely to Be Drafted

More often than not, the NFL's supplemental draft is much ado about nothing as long shots attempt to realize their dream of playing at the professional level. This year has the potential to be different, with at least three intriguing prospects who could be selected by teams at some point during the seven-round format.

Since 2000, a total of 11 players have been chosen in the supplemental draft. The success rate of these players varies.

Linebacker Ahmad Brooks will enter his 10th season this fall with the San Francisco 49ers after he was chosen in the third round of the 2006 supplemental draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Others, like safety Paul Oliver and defensive lineman Jeremy Jarmon, had very little impact once they were in the NFL. 

The last prospect selected in the supplemental draft came in 2012, when the Cleveland Browns chose wide receiver Josh Gordon with a second-round pick. 

The two-year streak of inconsequential supplemental drafts will likely come to an end Thursday when the league conducts its version of an inter-office email exchange with the fate of seven players hanging in the balance. 

Clemson's Isaiah Battle, Houston's Eric Eiland, Kansas' Kevin Short, North Carolina Central's Adrian Wilkins, UConn's Sean McQuillan and West Georgia's Darrius Caldwell and Dalvon Stuckey are eligible for this year's edition of the lesser-known draft. 

There is talent among this lot, but there are plenty of caveats as well. 

The supplemental draft is an outlet to pursue a professional career for those who need to take the road less traveled. In order to be eligible, prospects did not apply to be a part of the NFL's traditional entry draft, but they are ineligible to play during the upcoming season. The event serves as a catch-all for individuals who fell through the cracks for one reason or another. 

Each of the available prospects had issues in college that can be considered a red flag for teams. In some cases, it will be enough for certain prospects to go undrafted, while the overall value of the most intriguing available player will be driven down due to a recent off-the-field issue. 

In order to differentiate between the available prospects, Bleacher Report ranked them in order from the most to least likely to be drafted Thursday: 

1. Clemson Offensive Tackle Isaiah Battle

Left tackle remains one of the NFL's marquee positions. As such, a player's overall production will sometimes be overlooked due to vast potential. Battle certainly falls more into the latter category than the former. 

During his three seasons as a member of the Tigers, the offensive lineman played in 27 games and started 15. As a junior, Battle experienced a breakthrough campaign when he started 11 games. 

What makes this particular left tackle such an intriguing prospect, though, is his physical attributes for the position, as NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah noted:

Those traits are clearly evident, but the left tackle comes with off-the-field concerns.

According to TheClemsonInsider.com's Will Vanderbort, Battle was pulled over on June 11 "for speeding and as a result was caught with simple possession of marijuana."

Vanderbort also reported, "...sources told us he left the team because this was the third and final strike for the senior left tackle."

Considering the current state of the NFL, Battle's reported drug use is likely a major concern for teams, and it could cost him a couple of rounds in the supplemental draft. 

Teams remain highly intrigued by his raw potential, though. ESPN.com's Mike Reiss reported that representatives from 26 teams showed up to assess Battle during his personal pro day Tuesday.

Battle owns a rare combination of size, length and athleticism. He presents tremendous upside as a developmental prospect with the potential to become a future starter at left tackle.

But he needs plenty of work from a technique perspective.

Rotoworld's Josh Norris provided an example of Battle's biggest issue:  

A sub-300-pound lineman relies on athleticism and technique far more than their bulkier counterparts.

As seen in the example, Battle remained stiff in his lower body and didn't play over his haunches, which would provide better overall balance and a much better base from which he could derive more strength. Instead, the lineman played too top-heavy and was often caught with his weight over his toes. As a result, he struggled to hold his ground and negated some of his tremendous athleticism. 

These are teaching points offensive line coaches will almost certainly feel can be taught as Battle grows into his role as a blind-side protector. 

With such intriguing upside, the Clemson product is the only available prospect considered a surefire draftable option. 

2. West Georgia Defensive End Darrius Caldwell

The ability to get to the quarterback is a very valuable asset. For Caldwell, his 17.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks last year are almost enough to overlook his circuitous route to this point in his career. 

The defensive end originally committed to the Illinois Fighting Illini and attended the university for two years before he decided to transfer to Pearl River Community College.

As a JUCO transfer, Caldwell was a highly sought-after recruit. He originally committed to South Carolina to play for Steve Spurrier until he realized he didn't qualify to play for an SEC program. He then considered Arizona State but eventually decided it was too far from his Georgia home. 

"The only other solid offer I had was Arizona State [and] I liked that place, but I found out that I had a son on the way and I wouldn't be able live with myself if I had a son in Georgia and I was in Arizona," Caldwell told FirstCoastNews.com's Mike Kaye. 

After playing for the West Georgia Wolves for a season, Caldwell experienced academic issues and opted to take a chance in the supplemental draft. 

"It just felt like it was time," the pass-rusher said. "I couldn't wait another whole year. This is an opportunity to change my life and provide for my son."

As a prospect, Caldwell is intriguing due to his production at the Division II level last season and length off the edge. 

During last week's pro day, the defensive end measured nearly 6'5" and weighed 233 pounds, according to NFL.com's Gil Brandt. He completed six reps on the bench press, displayed a 35.5" vertical jump and leaped 8'2" during his broad-jump attempt. He also ran a 5.07-second 40-yard dash, 4.63-second short shuttle and 7.60-second three-cone drill. 

Only Caldwell's vertical jump would have qualified as a top-10 performance at this year's NFL combine. 

Despite his subpar athletic testing, the defensive end proved to be a top-flight defender last season, albeit at a lower level of play. Caldwell was more productive than his teammates, Stuckey and Tory Slater. Slater signed with the Cleveland Browns after going undrafted in April's draft. 

If a team projects Caldwell as a potential 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 strong-side linebacker then he has an outside chance of being chosen in the late rounds of Thursday's draft. 

3. West Georgia Defensive Tackle Dalvon Stuckey

Stuckey followed a similar path to his teammate. In fact, the two were teammates at both Pearl River Community College and West Georgia. 

The difference between the two, though, is pure upside and NFL scheme fit. 

While both Caldwell and Stuckey were considered 4-star recruits by ESPN Recruiting Nation, the defensive tackle originally committed to the Florida State Seminoles. He never played in Tallahassee, though. Poor grades prevented Stuckey from playing for the eventual national champions. 

The 6'2", 302-pound defensive tackle didn't produce at the same level as Caldwell or Slater, but his role was defined as the team's starting nose tackle. 

"I feel like anywhere between a 1-tech or a 3-tech, I can play either one but a lot of scouts have been telling me I'd probably play better as a 1-tech," Stuckey told Kaye. "I did play a lot of 1-tech at West Georgia, so I feel like I would dominate [at that position]."

Stuckey told NFLDraftDiamonds.com that he feels his greatest strength is stopping the run, while he still struggles at times with his pad level. 

"What separates me from others would probably be my quickness for my size," the defensive tackle said. 

But that quickness didn't show up during last week's workout. Brandt tweeted the results, and the interior defender finished with a 5.55-second 40-yard dash.

Granted, a 40-yard dash doesn't tell the entire story, especially for a defensive tackle—the Cleveland Browns selected nose tackle Danny Shelton with the 12th-overall pick in April's draft after he ran a 5.64-second 40-yard dash. Stuckey's time, however, would be considered poor even for a defensive tackle, and he didn't produce anywhere near the level Shelton did a year ago. 

The Florida native finished 13th on the team with 40 total tackles, but he did manage 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. 

Like Shelton, though, Stuckey already has a defined role for whatever team eventually selects or signs him. He won't have to transition to another position due to lack of size. He's already built like an NFL defensive tackle, and he'll be asked to consistently take on double-teams.

Clearly, the talent is there, based on his history. Due to his upside, the West Georgia defensive tackle also has a slight chance of being selected in the late rounds of the supplemental draft

4. Connecticut Tight End Sean McQuillan

This year's tight end class was considered one of the weakest position groups in April's draft. McQuillan has the potential to help a team by providing depth without the need to spend an asset to acquire his services. 

Rob Leifheit-USA TODAY Sports

McQuillan already graduated with a degree in economics. He originally planned to transfer to another program as a graduate student during his final year of eligibility, but those plans never came to fruition. As such, the supplemental draft is his only plan of action. 

The UConn product told the Hartford Courant's Desmond Conner that he feels he's going to be drafted Thursday:  

"

Well, first of all, I'm going to make it, and second of all, there isn't a backup plan. I'm confident I'm going to be able to do this thing. I'm prepared for this. I'm going to show them I'm athletic, I'm versatile, I can do a bunch of different things. I'm confident and I'm ready for this next step, so I haven't thought about anything else.

"

As a former high school quarterback, McQuillan is still developing in multiple areas of playing the tight end position. 

Two issues will likely hold him back. 

First, McQuillan never produced at a high level. Despite starting two years for the Huskies, he managed only 41 receptions for 354 yards and a pair of touchdowns. While his production was hampered by a limited UConn offense and injuries, he doesn't fit the mold of today's NFL tight end.

The 6'3", 247-pound tight end doesn't have the requisite size to be considered a primary blocker, and he lacks the speed and athleticism to be a downfield threat. In fact, McQuillan's longest reception the past two seasons was only 21 yards. 

Plus, the tight end is also facing a Class D felony assault charge after getting into a fight with his former roommate. The hearing is set for July 16, but teams won't know exactly where McQuillian stands when considering him as a potential draftee.  

Organizations in need of a tight end will still consider McQuillan, but it's far more likely he signs with a team as a free agent after not being selected. 

5. Houston Defensive End Eric Eiland

In Eiland's case, the Houston product hopes age comes before beauty. The 26-year-old defender planned to enter April's draft but didn't fill out the necessary paperwork, according to DraftInsider.net's Tony Pauline. 

Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Eiland already experienced the feeling of being drafted when the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 2007 MLB amateur draft, but it's unlikely to happen a second time. 

Age isn't the only concern. Eiland is an undersized defensive end who produced only 3.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. At 6'2" and 225 pounds, the defender will be forced to make his mark at another position. 

During his time in Houston, though, Eiland proved to be a versatile piece to the puzzle, having played defensive end, linebacker and even safety. He also contributed on special teams. His ability to play multiple positions and a professional approach will give him the opportunity to make an NFL roster. 

“He shows great work ethic and professionalism," former Houston teammate Joey Mbu told the Daily Cougar's Marcus Gutierrez last March. "He doesn’t complain much. He doesn’t show any immaturity, and if a coach tells him to do a certain task, he just does it. He is very mature.”

6. Kansas Defensive Back Kevin Short

It's quite difficult to project anyone who hasn't accumulated any game experience in nearly three years. 

Year	Player	Team	Round
2002	Milford Brown	Texans	6th
2003	Tony Hollings	Texans	2nd
2005	Manuel Wright	Dolphins	5th
2006	Ahmad Brooks	Bengals	3rd
2007	Paul Oliver	Chargers	4th
2007	Jared Gaither	Ravens	5th
2009	Jeremy Jarmon	Redskins	3rd
2010	Harvey Unga	Bears	7th
2010	Josh Brent	Cowboys	7th
2011	Terrelle Pryor	Raiders	3rd
2012	Josh Gordon	Browns	2nd

Short is intriguing to teams for one reason alone: size. At 6'2" and 185 pounds, Short has the size and length teams crave at the cornerback position. 

However, the last time he saw the field during a game was with Fort Scott Community College as part of the 2012 season. In 2013, he received a redshirt from the Kansas Jayhawks. And last year proved to be a disaster for Short, who left Charlie Weis' program in early September due to personal reasons. 

"Kevin's junior college transcript was better than most and indicated no reason to expect anything other than academic success," Weis said in a press release at the time, per the Fort Scott Tribune's Scott Nuzum. "We asked the NCAA representatives to allow Kevin to speak to them so he could show them how he had overcome adversity in life to become a proud new student, but they rejected that request. We are extremely disappointed with this decision."

While Short's situation was never fully detailed, he did address his departure. 

“I want to be clear that I am not leaving due to academics and I am not being dismissed from the team," Short told the University Daily Kansan's Shane Jackson. 

No playing time and leaving a program just before the season is a tough sell for a prospect, even one with the physical tools to succeed at the next level. 

7. North Carolina Central Wide Receiver Adrian Wilkins

Size matters in the NFL, and undersized prospects are usually required to earn their way into the league. 

Wilkins stands 5'8" and weighs 175 pounds. Not only is the North Carolina Central product considered small for his position, he also didn't play at the FBS level. 

“I think getting with the right team and the right program that’s looking for a person with that skill set, he could definitely be an asset to an NFL program,” North Carolina Central head coach Jerry Mack told the Herald-Sun's Brooke Pryor.

The diminutive target, who was a two-time First-Team All-MEAC selection, led the Eagles with 50 receptions last year, but he averaged just 10.8 yards per catch. 

His real value, though, comes as a return specialist. Wilkins averaged 10.4 yards per punt return in 2014.

To Be or Not to Be Drafted

When it's all said and done, Battle is the most likely to be drafted, while the rest of this year's supplemental crop will be weighing their options as undrafted free agents. 

Caldwell and Stuckey have the type of potential teams look for to develop, but there are concerns with both that could dissuade organizations from pulling the trigger on an actual selection. 

The rest of the group remains on the outside looking in as the event nears. 

The supplemental draft is a gamble for both those who are eligible and the teams potentially making a selection. 

Top prospects—at least those without some type of warts—aren't available at this point in the process. Former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar once made sure of that after he manipulated the system to his liking. There is a major risk and reward to the supplemental draft. 

In this year's class, one player appears to be worth the risk, with a couple more hoping at least one team feels the same about them. 

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL draft for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @brentsobleski.