College Football: Top 10 Players Who Went Through the NFL Supplemental Draft

Larry Burton (syndicated writer) on Terrelle Pryor entering the supplemental draft this year in the NFL, got me wondering who some of the other players were that went that route and had healthy careers in the NFL.

The sad truth is that most don't go on to stellar careers after using this as a way to get in to the NFL. But some do, and so it's time to look back and see who those top 10 are and why they made this list.

10. Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma

Brian Bosworth graduated early and decided to embark on his NFL career early as well by going the way of the supplemental draft. He was quite a big deal in college and was thought to be a sure-fire NFL success.

He signed the largest contract ever given to a rookie at that time for $11 million and went to the Seattle Seahawks, but his body just couldn't cash that kind of check after years of alleged steroid use. Just two games into his second year he was out with a career-ending shoulder injury.

The team doctor that treated him said the 25-year-old had the shoulders of a 60-year-old.

It's almost comical that his best-known play in the NFL is getting run over by Bo Jackson near the goal line during the Raider-Seahawk game in 1998. Earlier that week, Boz was trash-talking Jackson and said he would contain him.

Jackson wound up with 221 yards and three touchdowns. That clip of Bosworth being run over was the defining moment in both his and Jackson's careers.

Still, with a huge signing bonus and the fame that he parlayed into a C-list acting career, he gets in at No. 10 on our list.

9. Tito Wooten, Northeast Louisiana

The Giants took a small gamble in the fourth round of the 1994 supplemental draft to pick up a little-known defensive back from tiny Northeast Louisiana. They had hoped he'd make a decent special teams player and a good backup.

He worked out for them; three years into his career with the Giants he had a breakout year and snagged five interceptions.

He was traded to the Colts and then halfway through his first season with them, he and teammate Shawn King missed bed check by over seven hours and then showed up late for a team meeting to boot.

Of course Colts coach Jim Mora suspended both players for the rest of the year and Wooten chose never to return to try and resurrect his career after that.

He never played another down and neither did King.

But you have to put him on this list simply because that was such an interesting story and he did, after all, prove he belonged in the NFL on talent, just not common sense.

8. Dave Brown, Duke

Dave Brown may not be a household name, but he had an NFL career as a quarterback for eight years, including one year as a starter for the New York Giants where he went 9-7.

He played his last few years in Arizona with the Cardinals as a backup, but was a great mentor to younger quarterbacks and very well thought of.

Following football, Brown used his Duke degree to become a successful investment manager and has worked with New York Life Investment Management as a director and the Lehman’s Private Fund Marketing Group as a Senior VP.

He is currently a principal in Greenhill’s Private Capital Advisory Group.

Being a starter in the NFL at quarterback and surviving eight seasons in the NFL gets him to No. 8 on this list.

7. Darren Mickel, Florida

He was a solid player at Florida, but in 1992 coach Steve Spurrier dismissed Mickel from the team for one of those "violation of team rules" incidents, so he entered the supplemental draft and was taken in the second round by the Kansas City Chiefs.

While he never made stardom, he did survive 10 years in the NFL and started 61 games for three different teams.

If you make retirement in the NFL, you have definitely done well and deserve to make this list.

6. Mike Wahle, Navy

Mike Wahle was another one of the players mixed up in steroids in the late 1990s; he was dismissed from the Naval Academy football team. After coming to terms with the Navy over financial obligations due to him not fulfilling his military obligations, he was released to enter the supplemental draft in 1998.

Like Mickell, he had a very nice 10-year career in the NFL and started 138 games.

What gets him to No. 6 on this list is his Pro Bowl Appearance in 2005 while playing with the Carolina Panthers. He spent his first six years with the Packers, then three with the Panthers and finished his last season with the Seahawks.

5. Bobby Humphrey, Alabama

Bobby Humphrey was a legend at Alabama when he decided not to return for his fifth year. He felt he was a sure bet in the NFL and was scared he might get injured in the rigors of the SEC.

The Broncos felt he was a sure bet, too, and took him in the first round of the 1989 supplemental draft.

It was a chance that paid off big for both sides.

In his rookie year, he ran for over 1,000 yards and the most yardage in Super Bowl 24 despite losing the game.

The next season he rushed for 1,202 yards and made it to the Pro Bowl. He was one of the NFL's top backs.

Then he had a case of the big head.

He refused to return to camp in 1991 and held out for a bigger contract. When the Broncos refused to negotiate, months went by and Humphrey got fat and out of shape. When he finally caved in 14 weeks into the season, he was in such bad shape that he couldn't regain the starting job from a rookie who the Broncos picked up to take his place.

He became loathed by the Bronco players and was traded to Miami, where he tried playing for two years, but was merely a shell of his former self.

Still, he made the Pro Bowl and was a top running back in the NFL for at least one year, so he makes the list at No. 5 for that—and higher on the list of NFL dummies that made poor decisions.

4. Rob Moore, Syracuse

Rob Moore was a great football player as well as a great student. He graduated from Syracuse in just three years and decided to leave college ball for the NFL by way of the supplemental draft in 1990.

The New York Jets jumped all over Moore and selected him in the first round. He played four years for the Jets.

His next stop, Arizona, was maybe his best. In 1997, he had 97 catches for 1,584 yards. He made the Pro Bowl that year for the second time.

Footage of him was even used in the movie Jerry Maguire (the Hollywood character, Rod Tidwell, also played for the Cardinals and wore No. 85).

A 12-year career and two trips to the Pro Bowl get him to No. 4 on this list.

3. Bernie Kosar, Miami

Bernie Kosar being in the supplemental draft itself is quite a story. Many teams wanted him in the regular draft, but those were teams that Kosar didn't want to play for, so a deal worthy of a Hollywood movie was made to screw the system.

Kosar was an Ohio native and only wanted to play for the Browns. The Browns needed a quarterback and only wanted Kosar, but they didn't have a high enough draft choice to get him in the regular NFL draft.

The plan was genius: They traded with Buffalo for the first-round pick in the supplemental draft and Kosar skipped the regular draft, as if he were returning for the next season with his college team, the Miami Hurricanes.

However, after the conclusion of the regular draft, Kosar announced that he would not return and put himself in the supplemental draft and the Browns and Kosar hooked up.

He led the Browns to several playoff appearances and had the NFL record of 308 passes without an interception until this past season.

But it's his Pro Bowl year, his All-Pro year, the fact he's wearing a Super Bowl Championship ring (that he earned as a backup to Troy Aikman in Dallas) and a long 11-year career that gets him to No. 3.

2. Jamal Williams, Oklahoma State

Jamal Williams was another one of those gifted athletes who just couldn't make it in the classroom, and in 1998 the San Diego Chargers took a chance on Williams in the second round of the supplemental draft. They were rewarded with a man who would spend an 11-year career with the Chargers and one with the Broncos.

He was one of the best at his position for several years and was widely respected by everyone in the NFL.

Williams was solid as a rock for the Chargers and ended his career on the roster of the All-Charger 50th Anniversary team—as well as with three Pro Bowls and three All-Pro years.

Obviously, he's worthy of the No. 2 spot on this list.

1. Chris Carter, Ohio State

Chris Carter could have struck out with the NFL—he had two big strikes against him very early on.

First of all, he secretly signed with an agent while still in college and when it was discovered, he was declared ineligible.

Since it didn't come out until after the NFL draft, he went the supplemental draft route in 1987. That was strike one.

He was not someone that teams wanted to jump on, but in the fourth round he was taken by the Philadelphia Eagles.

After three seasons, however, coach Buddy Ryan cut Carter because of drug and alcohol abuse. That was strike two.

But the Vikings needed a backup receiver and took a chance on Carter, getting him cheap off waivers. The dismissal from the Eagles and his sudden fall caused him to re-examine his life and his choices. He swore off ecstasy and marijuana and cut his boozing as well.

After a slow start with the Vikings, he went on to eight-straight Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro team picks and one second-team selection. 

He finished his career with a forgettable year in Miami, but was second only to Jerry Rice in total receptions and touchdowns by a receiver.

All these things, combined with a long 15-year career, get him to No. 1 on this list.

And That's It!

If you feel someone was left off this list that was deserving, let me know in the comment section below.

Larry Burton is a Syndicated Writer whose work appears on the Internet and in print. If you'd like to keep up with all his articles, follow him on Twitter and sign up as a fan on his Bio Page.

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