Will the Cleveland Browns draft Sam Beal?
For Cleveland Browns fans, the draft is like Christmas. So this week’s supplemental draft, while not getting nearly as much buzz might qualify as Halloween. If so, let’s hope Sam Beal is more treat than trick.
The NFL will conduct their annual supplemental draft on Wednesday, July 11 and according to NFLDraftScout.com analyst Dane Brugler, Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey may draft Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal.
Such a move would only be fitting as the Browns have been front and center in free agency, the trade market and the 2018 NFL Draft. Why not keep going by making a splash in the usually quiet Supplemental Draft as well.
Sure, the Browns made a huge investment in their secondary this offseason. However, Beal is considered a true developmental player who would not be expected to play this year.
"“He’s a tall, lean, athletic corner,” Brugler said via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “There’s plenty to like about him. He’s undisciplined. He needs work. But down the line, he can be a guy that you’re glad you invested in. He needs technique work. It’s unsophisticated right now. But he has coachable tools, the physical traits. He likes to play bump and run. I wish he was a little better searching for the ball down the field and making plays. – Dane Brugler, as reported to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.More from Dawg Pound DailyHow the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should notIs Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target"
In most years, the supplemental draft comes and goes without much buzz. After all, the last time a team made a selection in the supplemental draft was in 2015 when the Rams selected offensive lineman Isaiah Battle.
The supplemental draft is known as the second-chance draft because it involves underclassmen who did not submit a petition for early entry into the NFL draft and, for whatever reason, have been declared ineligible to play for their school in the upcoming season.
The Cleveland Browns have had some success in the supplemental draft. Quarterback Bernie Kosar was selected in the 1985 supplemental draft and wide receiver Josh Gordon in 2012.
In the case of Beal, he has been declared academically ineligible for the 2018 season. However, he’s a two-year starter and has impressive numbers over three seasons, including 21 passes defended two interceptions and a forced fumble. He also has the speed you want at the cornerback position posting 40-yard dash times of 4.47 and 4.55 seconds.
Dorsey attended Beal’s pro day on June 28 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, adding fuel to the speculation that the Browns may be interested in making a claim on Beal.
The order for the supplemental draft is determined by a unique process. All 32 NFL teams are divided into three categories based on their win total from the prior season. You can read about the supplemental draft process here.
Interested teams submit bids on players based on the round that they would like to draft the player in. This is significant because if a team selects a player in the supplemental draft it automatically loses that choice in the corresponding round of next year’s NFL draft.
That’s where things get interesting. The Cleveland Browns have two picks in next year’s third round. If they were looking to take a developmental player, losing a third-round selection would make sense.
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However, there is buzz that some teams may be willing to forfeit as high as a second-round selection for Beal. Would Dorsey be willing to go that high? Considering the depth at the position, you would think not, but stay tuned.