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2019 NFL Supplemental Draft Player Profile: Jalen Thompson

By Cory Kinnan

BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 19: Wide receiver Jay MacIntyre #14 of the Colorado Buffaloes is tackled by safety Jalen Thompson #34 of the Washington State Cougars after making a catch during the third quarter at Folsom Field on November 19, 2016 in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado defeated Washington State 38-24. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 19: Wide receiver Jay MacIntyre #14 of the Colorado Buffaloes is tackled by safety Jalen Thompson #34 of the Washington State Cougars after making a catch during the third quarter at Folsom Field on November 19, 2016 in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado defeated Washington State 38-24. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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BERKELEY, CA – OCTOBER 13: Vic Wharton III #17 of the California Golden Bears carries the ball looking to avoid the tackle of Jalen Thompson #34 of the Washington State Cougars during the first quarter of their NCAA football game at California Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2017 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CA – OCTOBER 13: Vic Wharton III #17 of the California Golden Bears carries the ball looking to avoid the tackle of Jalen Thompson #34 of the Washington State Cougars during the first quarter of their NCAA football game at California Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2017 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Jalen Thompson, S, Washington State – Weaknesses, Summary

Weaknesses

Against the run, Thompson struggles to get off of blockers and tends to tip-toe around the action as the pile continues to drag forward. On wide runs to his side, there are times when Thompson should be in the picture, but as the play continues, he does not show up. If he is not immediately involved in the play, then he has a tendency to take the play off. He is plenty inconsistent against the run.

While he can be used inside the box, he struggles there, so unless he makes intense improvements there, keep Thompson over the top of the defense or in the slot in the boundaries.

Summary

Selecting a player in the Supplemental Draft can be risky business, and not many players are worth investing a high pick into. Josh Gordon was given to the Cleveland Browns with a second round pick, Terrelle Pryor to the Oakland Raiders with a third.

Teams who wanted a safety in the 2019 NFL Draft but may have waited too long may see Thompson as a second chance to get a guy as talented as a Juan Thornhill or Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.

NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best QBs of all time. dark. Next

It is usually tough to see a return on a player taken higher than the fourth-round in the Supplemental Draft as the success rate of these players is low. However, to obtain a player like Thompson, putting in a third-round bid may be worth it to secure his services.

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