Giants select Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal in supplemental draft

The New York Giants selected Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal in the third round of Wednesday’s supplemental draft.

The supplemental draft gives players who missed the chance to declare for the regular NFL Draft an opportunity to get drafted by an NFL team. These players usually have issues with their collegiate eligibility.

Beal was the first player selected in the supplemental draft since the St. Louis Rams selected Clemson offensive lineman Isaiah Battle in 2015. He was considered the top prospect in this year’s supplemental draft. His 40-yard dash times at Western Michigan’s pro day were 4.40 and 4.51. This goes along with a 37-inch vertical and a broad jump of 10 feet, six inches.

Beal’s 4.40 40-yard dash time would have placed him eighth among defensive backs at the NFL Scouting Combine. His 37-inch vertical would have also been eighth at the Combine while his 10 foot, six inch broad jump would have been sixth.

In three seasons for the Broncos, he amassed 92 total tackles (65 solo), two interceptions, 19 passes defended, and a forced fumble. His breakout performance came last season against USC when he picked off quarterback Sam Darnold (who was selected third overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft) for his first career interception.

Beal was named Second-team All Mid-American Conference in 2017. He originally planned to return to the Broncos for his senior season, citing a desire to complete his education and play in his final collegiate season.

Beal was projected to be a first round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was selected as a preseason First-team All-MAC selection for the upcoming season. Instead, he will suit up for the Giants after petitioning the NCAA to become eligible for the supplemental draft.

Beal was the first player selected in the supplemental draft as the first two rounds passed without a team making a pick. He is the first player selected by the Giants in the supplemental draft since Louisiana-Monroe safety Tito Wooten in the fourth round in 1994.

Beal joins a cornerback group that has many questions on the depth chart after Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple. The Giants signed veterans William Gay, Curtis Riley, and Teddy Williams in the offseason. In 2017, the Giants allowed the second most passing yards (252.4) in the NFL and routinely looked outmatched.

The Giants will forfeit their 2019 third-round pick for selecting Beal in the supplemental draft.

– Curtis Rawls is a Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage and covers the NFL, the New York Giants, and the NBA. Please like and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Twitter. Curtis can be followed on Twitter @CuRawls203.