Raiders pass on defensive help in 2018 Supplemental Draft

There was a plethora of defenders available in Wednesday’s NFL Supplemental Draft, but the Raiders decided against taking any of them this year. Sam Beal, the highly regarded former Western Michigan cornerback, went to the New York Giants with their pick in the third round. The Giants, thusly, forfeit their third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, but they have a tall, athletic corner to show for it in the 6’1” Beal, who was the most coveted Supplemental Draft prospect since Josh Gordon. It was thought that Beal could potentially go in the second round, so the Giants got a good deal here.

The last time the Raiders used a supplemental draft pick was on QB/WR Terrelle Pryor in 2011, as what would sadly become Al Davis’ last draft pick before his death. Only the Rams’ Isaiah Battle and the Browns’ Gordon have been selected in the supplemental draft since then.

The Washington Indigenous Persons also made a selection in this draft, using their sixth-round pick to snag Virginia Tech corner Adonis Alexander. The Raiders had been present for the workout of supplemental draft entrant Brandon Bryant, a defensive back from Mississippi State, but he went unclaimed in the draft itself and was subsequently signed as a free agent by the Jets following the draft’s conclusion.

The other two draft entrants remain unsigned- Grand Valley State RB Martayveus Carter and Oregon State linebacker Bright Ugwoegbu. Of the two, Ugwoegbu is more likely to draw the Raiders’ interest, but it remains to be seen whether Oakland wants to add another rookie to its roster at this time.