In Supp Draft, betting on Gordon to #Dolphins ...just makes too much sense
— Matt Williamson (@WilliamsonNFL) July 8, 2012
3rd rnd supp pick sounds about right for Gordon
— Matt Williamson (@WilliamsonNFL) July 8, 2012
Remember, heading into the 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft on Thursday, the Miami Dolphins hold an extra third round draft choice, following the trade of wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears. Could the Dolphins use one of those third round choices to go after former Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon?
Rotoworld reported yesterday that "high-ranking members" of Baylor's team felt Gordon was a better prospect than his former teammate Kendall Wright, prior to Gordon's departure from the team. Wright was selected with the 20th overall pick in this year's Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
While Wright is a prototypical slot receiver, at 5' 10", 196 pounds, Gordon is an outside receiver, with the size and speed NFL teams desire. Whit his 6'2", 220 pound frame, Gordon caught 43 passes for 721 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons at Baylor. He was suspended indefinitely after his sophomore year at Baylor for violations of team rules. He transferred to Utah, but never appeared in a game after sitting out the 2011 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Of course, leading into any NFL Draft, there is a ton of rumors, speculation, and misinformation. Draft "experts" have Gordon going anywhere from early in the draft, to not being worth a sixth round choice. And, the teams interested in Gordon varies almost as much. The Cleveland Browns have been both in the bidding and out of it for Gordon. SB Nation Kansas City found a mock draft that has the Washington Redskins getting Gordon in the fifth round, teaming him up with his former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. (The mock also has the Dolphins ending up with Carson-Newman linebacker Larry Lumpkin in the seventh round.) Rotoworld also has a report that "one NFC East" team is "prepared to put a third-round bid" on Gordon.
And, of course, ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr., the draft "expert of all experts" and the only man whose hair moves less than Jimmy Johnson's, weighed in on Gordon:
Former Baylor WR Josh Gordon (talented 6-3-220 pounder with 4.40 speed & big hands) could be a 4th rd pick in July 12 Supplemental Draft.
— Mel Kiper Jr. (@MelKiperESPN) July 2, 2012
Meanwhile SB Nation Dallas states that Gordon will not get past the third round, this time quoting Pro Football Talk's Evan Silva that an NFC East team is interested in Gordon.
SB Nation Dallas also reports that Gordon, along with fellow Supplemental Draft hopefuls, TCU running back Ed Wesley, and Boise State cornerback Quaylon Ewing will each hold a "Pro Day" style workout this week. Gordon is expected to hold his workout on Tuesday at Rice University.
The workout could help solidify Gordon as an early supplemental draft target. SI.com's NFL Draft analyst Tony Pauline tweeted on July 6:
Several sources confirmed w/me tonight Josh Gordon/WR/Baylor was targeted as a potential 1st/2nd prospect after his sophomore season in '10
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) July 7, 2012
Thursday will clarify everything, after the Supplemental Draft is concluded. The NFL's Supplemental Draft is conducted like a silent auction. Any team that is interested in a player may place a bid on that player, choosing whichever round they feel they would select him in the full NFL Draft. Then, whichever team placed the lowest bid wins the rights to the player, but concedes the corresponding pick from the following year's Draft. For example, if a team places a third round bid on Gordon, while another places a fifth round bid, the third round bid would win, and that team would lose its third round choice in next April's Draft.
This year's Supplemental Draft will take place electronically beginning at 1pm Easter on Thursday, July 12.