With much less fanfare, the NFL’s supplemental draft will be held Wednesday.
The supplemental draft allows for underclassmen — who did not petition the league for early entry before the draft deadline but are ineligible for the upcoming college season a path to the league.
Here are five things to know about this year’s supplemental draft:
1. Thompson workout: The Falcons conducted the workout for former Washington State safety Jalen Thompson Monday in Los Angeles, according to Tony Pauline of draftanalyst.com.
Thompson and former West Virginia wide receiver Marcus Simms are projected to be drafted.
2. Falcons' opening: Falcons have an opening at the backup free safety position, while starter Ricardo Allen is recovering from Achilles surgery. Thompson measured just over 5 feet, 10 inches and weighed 186 pounds with 8 3/8-inch hands and an arm strength of 31-1/4, according to Pauline. He had a 33-1/2 vertical and 40-yard dash times of 4.47 and 4.56, with a 4.16 in the short shuttle and a 6.98 in the three cone.
Thompson lost his final year of NCAA eligibility for a rules violation, prompting him to declare for the supplemental draft.
3. Others eligible: Former Syracuse linebacker Shyheim Cullen, former Saint Francis defensive back Bryant Perry and former junior college tight end Devonaire Clarington also have entered the supplemental draft.
4. Falcons' past supplemental picks: Current general manager Thomas Dimitroff has not used the supplemental draft since joining the franchise in 2008.
In franchise history, the Falcons have only selected one player in the traditional supplemental draft: Defensive end Matthew Teague in 1980 with a seventh-round pick.
They selected three players in the special USFL and CFL supplemental draft of 1984: wide receiver Joey Jones, defensive tackle McInnis and defensive back Dennis Woodbery.
5. Format. The Falcons would forfeit the pick in the 2020 draft depending on the round a player is selected in the supplemental draft. If they elected to pick Thompson in the third round of the supplemental draft, they would lose their third round pick for the 2020 NFL draft.
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