No player has been selected in the NFL’s supplemental draft since the 2012 offseason when the Cleveland Browns took wide receiver Josh Gordon, but Clemson offensive tackle Isaiah Battle could break the streak in 2015.
Anytime I see an offensive tackle become available, or an offensive lineman in general, I wonder if the Denver Broncos’ interest might possibly be piqued, and so I pose the question with this latest:
Should the Broncos seriously consider using a draft pick on Battle?
Well, let’s take a closer look at the player. Having played 27 games at Clemson and starting 11 last year, Battle is still obviously a bit raw but he’s extremely talented. The 6-foot-7, 290 pounder was slated to be the starting left tackle again this season for the Tigers, but decided to leave school early, claiming personal reasons.
“I have some family matters to address, with a child due this summer, and I feel it is in my best interest to enter the NFL supplemental draft,” Battle said. “I want to thank everyone at Clemson, especially Coach Swinney and the assistant coaches, for what they have done for me the last three years. I also want to thank my teammates. They have all had a big impact on my career.”
There are rumors that Battle had received a third disciplinary strike from the football program at Clemson after getting in trouble a couple of years ago, serving a suspension in 2013 for punching a player. He was also pulled over in early June for speeding and caught with marijuana. Police cited him for both, but he wasn’t charged or arrested.
It would certainly be a bit of a risky pickup for the Broncos, but they just used their first round pick on Shane Ray, who was caught with possession of marijuana the week of the draft. They traded up in the first round to get him.
Obviously, Ray is a top 10 talent, but Battle is considered a top flight player in his own right.
The scouting reports on Battle say he is a big, long athlete with great movement skills and initial hand pop.
I’d be all for it if the Broncos wanted to use a fourth or fifth round pick on this guy in the Supplemental Draft (which should be in a couple of weeks). It’s a pretty low risk investment for a potentially high reward.