With a fifth-round pick in Wednesday’s NFL Supplemental Draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected Washington State safety Jalen Thompson.
There was little doubt Thompson would get picked in the Supplemental Draft. At his workout last week, 26 teams were in attendance. What is surprising is none of the other four players eligible for the Supplemental Draft were selected.
The #Cardinals have selected Washington State DB Jalen Thompson in Round 5 of the NFL supplemental draft, source said. First one off the board.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 10, 2019
Thompson was a three-year starter at Washington State. At 6-0 and 190 pounds, he’s a prototype NFL safety. Last year with the Cougars he recorded 40 tackles, three for a loss, eight passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two interceptions.
He joins a stacked defensive backfield situation in Arizona. The team has two solid starters already in Budda Baker and D.J. Swearinger and just drafted Deionte Thompson out of Alabama in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
The other four players in the Supplemental Draft; West Virginia wide receiver Marcus Simms, St. Francis defensive back Bryant Perry, Northland Community College tight end Devonaire Clarington and Syracuse linebacker Shyheim Cullen are all now free agents and can sign with any team.
The NFL Supplemental Draft is today – and Jalen Thompson should likely be drafted. After all, our lead draft analyst @PFF_Mike Renner did give him a 2nd-round grade in our upcoming Preseason 2020 NFL Draft Guide (coming August 12)!
A preview of our preseason draft guide. pic.twitter.com/rJ40NaTpxI
— PFF (@PFF) July 10, 2019
Simms making it through the draft was a shock. Certainly, if he’d been available in the regular draft back in April, he would have been selected. Simms, at 5-11, 188, is a solid-sized wideout. He caught 46 passes for 699 yards and two touchdowns last season for the Mountaineers. He ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at his pro day that was attended by 16 NFL teams. Reportedly, the Jacksonville Jaguars are signing him, pending a physical.
Source: The #Jaguars are signing former West Virginia WR Marcus Simms, pending a physical tomorrow. Had several offers after today's supplemental draft ended. One to watch in camp.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 10, 2019
A name to watch as these players get snatched up in the next day or so is Clarington. Clairington is huge at 6-7, but needs to put on more weight for his size. Northland reported him at 230 pounds. He was a pass-catching machine at his JuCo, hauling in 48 passes for 916 yards and 11 touchdowns. Some team is going to jump on that kid for his potential alone.
