Huge 2019 Supplemental NFL Draft name declares
By Will Lomas
If you are going to follow the 2019 Supplemental NFL Draft, learn this name.
The 2019 Supplemental draft has one name who could get drafted, one who probably won’t, and now they have their first “sure fire” prospect: Jalen Thompson.
The news first broke when Ian Rapoport tweeted this a few hours ago:
A key entrance into the supplemental draft: Washington State S Jalen Thompson, who learned yesterday he lost his eligibility for the 2019 season and applied to be drafted in July. He hired agent Brad Cicala and is heading into the NFL. Should be selected.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 29, 2019
This is pretty big news because the consensus is that he is similar to former Iowa safety and current Tennessee Titans DB Amani Hooker. Defenses around the NFL are shifting towards DBs who can do more, missiles vs the run with the range to cover.
PFF is a big fan and suggest he can do both:
Jalen Thompson was all over the field for Washington State and will return to bolster the Cougars defense. pic.twitter.com/FMAhBcrLIU
— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 28, 2019
Jalen Thompson from the slot pic.twitter.com/OKXAWCRFYF
— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 23, 2018
Since the Tennessee Titans already have one of the best collection of safeties in the NFL (Kevin Byard, Kenny Vaccaro, Dane Cruikshank, and Amani Hooker), you may think Thompson isn’t a big need for them.
Well, yes and no. I have written about it a lot recently but Amani Hooker could turn out to be considered a slot cornerback by the Titans coaching staff. Rather than being looked at as a depth player, he could be looked at as the next starter in line to replace Logan Ryan inside on nickel downs.
Let’s look at what the Titans depth chart would look like in 2020 when you take away those free agents (except for Kevin Byard)
CB: Adoree Jackson, Malcolm Butler, Amani Hooker
CB depth: (none)
S: Kevin Byard, Kenny Vaccaro
Safety depth: Dane Cruikshank
The Tennessee Titans are set to lose Logan Ryan, LeShaun Sims, and Tye Smith in free agency next year. Unless an UDFA sticks on the roster then they are going to have literally no depth at cornerback next year before the offseason and only one safety as depth.
For a team that likes to play with five DBs on the field, that depth is crucial to the success of the defense. So maybe it isn’t crazy to think that the Titans could spend a future draft pick on a position that they are already going to target in the offseason next year.
While it isn’t a given, I would think that Thompson’s low cost and the future need at the position would make him more of a target then most think.
The last thing I will note is this, Tony Pauline said this about Thompson’s value:
Thompson was given a 3rd/4th round pre-season grade by scouts. Thompson wanted to stay at Wazzu but the NCAA ruled on Thursday he was ineligible, hence the late entry into the supplemental draft. Scheduled workout date for NFL teams is July 8 in Los Angeles. https://t.co/P9J5PLVAKn
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) June 29, 2019
A fringe Day 2 grade is nothing to scoff at and it would almost certainly be too rich for the Titans. But if he has a good workout and teams aren’t quite as high on him as the grades he was given by scouts, I could definitely see any of the Day 3 picks that the Titans have being on the table.