Posts tagged PaulOliver at FanHouse

For those of you looking forward to the supplemental draft to break up the drudgery between now and the start of training camp, I have some bad news: it's been canceled due to lack of interest. That's right, this year, you won't be able to sit in front of your computer and wait for random NFL.com updates alerting you to which team team took a fourth-round flier on a player you've never heard of.

"No one applied at the time of the deadline," 49ers general manager Scott McCloughan confirmed Thursday. The NFL sent out a memo to all 32 teams informing them of the announcement Wednesday.

The cancellation comes as a surprise because there had been rumblings that several players were considering applying, including high profile talents such as Southern California middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, Oklahoma State tight Brandon Pettigrew and Mississippi State offensive tackle Michael Brown.

Yes, surprising, indeed. Last year, the Chargers forfeited a 2008 fourth-rounder to take Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver, and a round later, the Ravens grabbed offensive tackle Jared Gaither, who could be in line to replace Jonathan Ogden.

Oliver only appeared in three games last season, but Gaither made two starts, and heads into training camp tentatively penciled in as Baltimore's left tackle.

According to NFLDraftScout.com, only 37 players have been selected via the supplemental draft since its inception in 1977, with Bernie Kosar, Cris Carter and Brian Bosworth among the most noteworthy. One of these names is not like the other.

According to Pro Football Talk, the San Diego Chargers have selected Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver in the fourth round of the NFL supplemental draft. Oliver will be there when the Chargers open training camp, and the Chargers won't have a fourth-round pick next year.

Oliver was slow in his workout for NFL scouts, which is why no team wanted to spend a 2008 first-day pick on him. But coaches loved what they saw on tape of Oliver, especially when he was matched up with Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson, chosen second overall by the Lions in the April draft.

Oliver might take a bit of time to adjust to the speed of the NFL game, but by getting him now, the Chargers ensured that they won't be hit too hard by the likely loss of Drayton Florence, who becomes a free agent after the 2007 season.

Also in the supplemental draft, the Ravens selected Maryland offensive tackle Jared Gaither.

Previously at FanHouse:
Chargers Interested in Paul Oliver

A league source says the San Diego Chargers are interested in Georgia cornerback Paul Oliver, who left school during the spring semester, and may choose him in the July 12 supplemental draft.

Oliver had a mediocre performance when he worked out for NFL scouts, and I was highly skeptical that any team would spend a 2008 first-day pick on him, but many observers in the league and in the media think some team will use its 2008 second- or third-round pick to get Oliver right now.

For the Chargers, the addition of Oliver (who had an outstanding game matched up against Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson, now with the Lions, last year) would anticipate the loss of Drayton Florence, who becomes a free agent after the 2007 season. Oliver would probably get minimal playing time as a rookie, but he has the potential to be a solid starter down the road, and it's that potential that will lead some team to take him next week.