New York Giants draft CB Sam Beal of Western Michigan in the 2018 supplemental draft

The New York Giants have selected cornerback Sam Beal of Western Michigan in the 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft.

The Giants were awarded the third pick in the pre-draft lottary and bid a third round pick on Beal.

Beal was considered by scouts to be the top senior corner entering the 2018 college season, before being declared academically ineligible. Now, he is almost unanimously considered to be the top prospect in the Supplemental Draft, and likely the best since Josh Gordon in 2012.

Beal is a talented player with a good blend of length, athleticism, and ball skills, notching 18 passes defensed, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble over the last two seasons.

At 6 feet, 1 inch and 190 pounds he has a good frame for the position but could stand to add some muscle to better stand up to physical receivers in press coverage. Schematically, he isn’t terribly limited, with the length, quick feet, and loose hips to play in man coverage while also having the instincts and quickness to play zone.

Raptor’s Thoughts

The move is, at once, both shocking and unsurprising.

The shock comes from the fact that the Giants would use their third round pick from the 2019 draft on a player who was declared academically ineligible. The mandate over the last few years has been to avoid players with any kind of red flag at all costs. Likewise, it is shocking for the New York Football Giants to be the first team to select a player in the supplemental draft since 2015.

It unsurprising, however, because the Giants are razor-thin at the cornerback position behind Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple. Beal was a good player in college and could have played his way into the second round in the 2019 draft with a good year in 2018. His selection gives the Giants a much-needed boost to their depth chart and a potential steal.

It is unlikely (they hope) that Beal will be much help to the team in 2018, but he has the look of a potential long-term starter, and should be a good fit in James Bettcher’s defense. Likewise, it is something of a boon for the Giants to get Beal in-house a full 10 months before his peers would be drafted.