NFL SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT
CHOICE PROJECT
In an unusually strong supplemental draft, the Dolphins might take talented but unproven Manuel Wright in hopes of filling a need on the defensive line.
BY JASON COLE
jcole@herald.com
Coach Nick Saban has managed to keep one eye on the present and one on the future with most of his personnel moves through his first offseason with the Dolphins.
With that in mind, it will be interesting to see if he continues that process Thursday, when the Dolphins might try to fill one of their biggest remaining needs through the annual NFL supplemental draft.
The Dolphins will have a chance to select talented-but-unproven defensive tackle Manuel Wright of Southern California, considered the best of an unusually strong list of players who will be available.
The supplemental draft, which is conducted by e-mail and lasts less than two hours, usually has all the significance of the announcement of the All-NFL Europe team.
There have been a handful of good players taken since the first supplemental draft was held in 1977, most notably quarterback Bernie Kosar, running back Bobby Humphrey, linebacker Brian Bosworth, guard Mike Wahle and wide receivers Cris Carter and Rob Moore.
Most years, nondescript players like former Dolphins defensive back Calvin Jackson are available. And given that teams that use supplemental picks lose a corresponding pick in the following April's draft, they must choose wisely.
This year might be different. Aside from Wright, there are Clemson wide receiver Roscoe Crosby, who was a prep sensation three years ago before trying pro baseball and getting hurt; UNLV cornerback Charles Ealy, who has a strong combination of size and speed; and pass-rushing defensive end Jerome Walker of Toledo.
POTENTIAL WAS THERE
''The interesting thing is that you have some guys who are really interesting projections,'' said John Murphy, the founder of NextLevel Scouting and a highly respected draftnik. ``You have Wright and Crosby, two guys who might really have developed into first-round picks if they had been able to play. The problem is that they didn't. Crosby hasn't been on the football field for three years, but he was a consensus top-five recruit coming out of high school.''
Wright is the most intriguing player for the Dolphins. He visited the team for two days in June and could fill a huge need.
After the retirement of Tim Bowens (back problems), the Dolphins' most experienced defensive linemen are 14-year veteran Keith Traylor, 13-year veteran Jeff Zgonina and Larry Chester, who is coming back from two knee surgeries and will be limited to one practice a day in training camp.
Two-year veteran Dario Romero and rookie Kevin Vickerson also will be in camp, as well as versatile free-agent signees Kevin Carter and Vonnie Holliday. But none of those players projects as the kind of star tackle Saban could use for his defense.
Which is where Wright might enter the Dolphins' picture.
One person with knowledge of what the Dolphins think of Wright said: ``The kid has some baggage. He's talented and explosive, but he's incredibly raw.''
EAGLES' INTEREST
However, there is a strong sense around the NFL that Philadelphia will use a late second-round pick on Wright, who could eventually succeed high-priced starting defensive tackle Corey Simon.
''You're basically talking about what's almost a third-round pick if you're the Eagles,'' one NFL executive said. ``I could easily see them doing that.''
But Murphy said he thinks the talk about Wright is overblown.
''I don't think he's going to go as high as people think,'' Murphy said, referring to the idea Wright could be taken as high as the second round. ``Sure, if he had played and gotten a chance to work, he might have been [former Titans first-round pick] Albert Haynesworth. But at this point, he's probably closer to being like Marquise Hill.''
Hill, a former LSU standout, was a fifth-round pick who has been effective at times with New England.
For the Dolphins, that likely isn't a huge gain over what they already have.
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