Impact NFL Supplemental Draft Picks

SI Staff | Jul 16, 2010

Impact NFL Supplemental Draft Picks /

Impact NFL Supplemental Draft Picks

Bernie Kosar, QB

Beginning with the NFL supplemental draft's inception in 1977, 42 players have been selected in the lesser-known of the two drafts. In 2012 the Cleveland Browns took Josh Gordon, in 2010 the Chicago Bears took running back Harvey Unga, and the Dallas Cowboys chose Josh Price-Brent. Here's a look at some of the supplemental draft's more notable selections, beginning with Kosar. The Browns manipulated the supplemental draft to ensure he ended up in Cleveland, thus earning the wrath of the Vikings and Oilers, among other teams. Kosar turned the struggling Browns into a perennial playoff presence in the 1980s.

Brian Bosworth, LB

Injuries limited Bosworth to a disappointing three-year career, but his 10-year, $11 million contract, odd hairstyles and list of college accolades made him a sensation when he entered the league. His Hollywood career kept him in the headlines after his playing days were over.

Cris Carter, WR

From worst to best. Carter was suspended before his senior season at Ohio State when it was learned he had secretly signed a contract with infamous agent Norby Walters. The Eagles used only a fourth-round pick to acquire a bonafide No. 1 receiver, though alcohol and drug abuse led Philadelphia to cut him before the 1990 season. After the Vikings picked him up off waivers, Carter turned his life around and finished his career second to only Jerry Rice in career receptions and touchdown receptions (he has since been overtaken at both positions).

Steve Walsh, QB

Acting on the advice of his agent, Walsh let the draft deadline go by without filing. He was taken by the Cowboys in the first round of the supplemental draft and remained in Troy Aikman's shadow early on. He had a respectable 11-year career with six teams.

Bobby Humphrey, RB

A stud running back out of Alabama, Humphrey was picked up by the Broncos in the first round of the 1989 supplemental draft. Though injuries cut his career to four seasons, he led the Broncos to the Super Bowl and was the Rookie of the Year in '89. He was also a Pro Bowl selection the following season.

Rob Moore, WR

Moore is one of only two supplemental picks in history (the other being the Chargers' Jamal Williams) to earn more than one trip to the Pro Bowl. The first-round supplemental pick had a successful career that spanned a decade. For his career, Moore had 9,368 receiving yards and 49 touchdowns. His best season was 1997, when he caught 97 passes for 1,584 yards and eight touchdowns.

Dave Brown, QB

After taking him in the first round of the supplemental draft, the Giants groomed Brown as the heir apparent to Phil Simms. But the former Duke quarterback never delivered on his promise, and no team has made a first-round supplemental pick since him.

Mike Wahle, OL

Wahle entered the supplemental draft after losing his NCAA eligibility at Navy. He was a wide receiver part of his career at Navy, though he eventually grew into a 6-foot-6, 304-pound offensive lineman. The Packers selected him in the second round of the supplemental draft after he completed his military requirement with Navy. He played 11 seasons with Green Bay, Carolina and Seattle, protecting Brett Favre for six of them. He started 16 games for five consecutive seasons and was a Pro Bowl starter in 2005.

Jamal Williams, DT

Williams had planned to return to Oklahoma State for his senior season but was declared academically ineligible after the NFL draft. The Chargers scooped him up in the second round, providing themselves with a stalwart at nose tackle in their 3-4 defensive scheme for 12 seasons. He was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2005. He played the 2010 season with Denver.

Al Hunter, RB

The supplemental draft was created in part because of Hunter's ineligibility for the 1977 NCAA football season. Hunter failed out of Notre Dame after the NFL draft but before his senior season with the Irish. Because Hunter wasn't eligible to transfer, the supplemental draft was put in place for players in his situation. In four seasons with Seattle, he gained 715 yards as a part-time running back.

Dave Wilson, QB

The heir apparent to Archie Manning, Wilson was taken by the Saints in the first round of the 1981 supplemental draft, making him the first player to go in the opening round. After a knee injury hampered his mobility, he could never live up to those expectations. In parts of seven seasons with the Saints, he threw 55 interceptions and just 36 touchdown passes.

Published Jul 16, 2010

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