The NFL held its Supplemental Draft on Thursday morning and, as expected, only one player was selected. The Cleveland Browns snagged former Baylor and Utah wide receiver Josh Gordon by bidding a second-round pick for his services, meaning that the Browns will forfeit their second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Through the lottery process that accompanies the Supplemental Draft, the Vikings were sixth overall on the priority ladder, behind (in order) the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, and St. Louis Rams. That means that, when the Browns bid a second-round pick for Gordon's services, the only way the Vikings would have been able to surpass them was to bid a first-round pick, which would have meant forfeiting their first-round pick in next year's draft.
It was rumored that there were a few teams that had a third-round grade on Gordon, and in my opinion a second-rounder for him seems a bit excessive. In today's NFL, first and second-rounders (unless they're quarterbacks) and even most third-rounders are expected to contribute right away. The Browns putting up a second-round pick for the services of a guy that hasn't played a down of competitive football since 2010. . .he sat out the 2011 season after transferring from Baylor to Utah after Baylor suspended him for a marijuana arrest. . .seems like a huge stretch.
Is it possible that Gordon can make an impact in 2012? I suppose it is. . .anything is possible. But the Browns find themselves in a situation similar to the Vikings, in a division where they're competing with three very good teams and thought to be going through a rebuilding process. If Gordon doesn't help them much this year, they've given up their second-round pick in 2013. . .a pick that could have been used to bolster them further.
None of the other seven players that applied for the Supplemental Draft were selected, meaning that they are all now available as undrafted free agents.