Patriots among 31 teams not making a selection in the 2019 NFL supplemental draft

The NFL’s 2019 supplemental draft came and went, and only one player heard his name called: the Arizona Cardinals invested a fifth-round pick in 2020 to acquire safety Jalen Thompson. The Washington State product, who lost his eligibility after purchasing an over-the-counter supplement, was one of two players projected to potentially get drafted today; the other — West Virginia wide receiver Marcus Simms — did not hear his name called.

This also means that the New England Patriots are among thirty-one clubs in the league to not pick a player in this year’s supplemental draft. While Simms, who has since been signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars, would have been an intriguing prospect for the reigning world champions given his deep-threat potential and experience in the kicking game, seeing them not make a selection today is no real surprise.

The franchise has added only two players that way since the NFL introduced the ‘second’ draft in 1977, after all, and none under head coach/de facto general manager Bill Belichick. As a result, one spot on the Patriots’ 90-man offseason roster remains open heading into training camp. Furthermore, New England still holds onto the thirteen draft picks (including compensatory selections) it is projected to receive next year.

Meanwhile, Josh Gordon remains the only player on the Patriots’ roster who joined the NFL via the supplemental draft: the suspended wide receiver originally entered the league with the Cleveland Browns in 2012.