The 2018 NFL Draft is behind us, but the selection of draft prospects is not quite complete. Next month, the annual Supplemental Draft will take place. Players are rarely selected in the supplemental draft, with the last one in 2015 (Isaiah Battle), and previously in 2012 (Josh Gordon). The San Francisco 49ers last used a supplemental draft pick in 1985 (RB Roosevelt Snipes), although Ahmad Brooks was originally a supplemental pick of the Cincinnati Bengals.
This year, we could see at least one player selected, and there are a couple other potentially intriguing options. The group of prospects include Virginia Tech CB Adonis Alexander, Mississippi State S Brandon Bryant, and Western Michigan CB Sam Beal. So yes, three players in the secondary, which is an area where the 49ers are looking to build.
Alexander (6’3, 207) is academically ineligible for the coming season, and was also charged with marijuana possession in 2016. In three seasons at Virginia Tech, he had 125 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, seven interceptions, and 17 pass breakups. There is still some rawness to his game, but Alexander brings a lot to the table beyond just that impressive size.
Beal (6’1, 190) is also academically ineligible this fall. The supplemental draft is available for players who are ruled ineligible after the regular draft passes. He was first team All-MAC for Pro Football Focus, finishing with two interceptions and ten pass breakups. There is some thought he could be the highest supplemental draft pick since Gordon was a second round pick.
Bryant (5’11, 200) has been timed as fast as 4.24 in the 40-yard dash, and even though that should be taken with a grain of salt, speed is clearly part of his game.
The supplemental draft involves blind bidding of picks. A team submits a pick they will use for a player. If they are the highest bid, that pick in the 2019 NFL Draft is taken by that player. So, if the 49ers wanted Beal and thought he was worth their second round pick, if they were the highest bidder, that 2019 pick would be lost for the player.