Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Well, that was uneventful. The NFL Supplemental Draft — which is apparently conducted through E-mail — has failed to produce any draftees for the second straight season. Furthermore, it’s now been 20 years since the Giants were actively engaged in the supplemental process, dating all the way back to defensive back Tito Wooten in 1994.
Only four players petitioned the league for Supplemental Draft eligibility: Southern Methodist University running back Traylon Shead, Virginia-Lynchburg defensive tackle LaKendrick Ross, North Carolina linebacker Darius Lipford and New Mexico wide receiver Chase Clayton. All four will now take on free agent status and can be signed by any NFL team.
Ross and his 6’6 360 lb. frame drew considerable interest from around the league (12 teams). However, his first order of business is apparently getting back in shape. It seems his agent, Glen Lansky, had no realistic expectation for him to get drafted:
"“He is not going to sign with a team for at least a couple of weeks. He is just not in shape,” agent Glen Lansky told NFLDraftScout.com on Thursday. “When he worked out for the scouts (July 7) he said he would do a couple of things and wound up doing everything and it was obvious he just isn’t in shape yet.“There are some teams interested, but he started working with a trainer today and realistically it will take at least a couple of weeks for him to take part in a serious workout for a team. He is focused on this, but it will take time.”"
The Giants were one of ten teams in attendance for Shead’s Pro Day at SMU, but ultimately, parting with a coveted 2015 draft choice for another power back didn’t make sense given current roster construction — Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams, Peyton Hillis and Kendall Gaskins are all down and dirty runners. Should they be intrigued enough to make a play in free agency, the door is now open.