The NFL Supplemental Draft will take place this July 11. This event is in place primarily for underclassmen who did not submit their eligibility in time for the standard league draft New Orleans Saints Hoodie , or more often for players who have been ruled ineligible for their upcoming collegiate season. Rarely are there many quality players available in this event, and oftentimes there isn't a player selected at all. The last player to be selected in the supplemental draft was offensive lineman Isaiah Battle, drafted in 2015 by the St. Louis Rams. Since it's inception in 1977, there have been just 43 players selected, and only 12 picked since 2000. The process itself is set up more like an auction or a raffle than a draft, but the order of teams is based off of previous year's record, and there are selection rounds. If a team wants a particular player, they place a "bid" for that player. Then, if no team with a higher spot bids on that player, then he is awarded to the team with the highest slot that placed the bid. In turn, the team that gets that player then forfeits the regular draft pick in the next NFL draft of the round that the supplemental player that was selected. The New Orleans Saints have selected one player throughout the entire history of the supplemental draft, obtaining quarterback Dave Wilson out of Illinois in 1981. Wilson would have a 7-yr. career, all with the Saints, starting 31 games with a 12-19 record while throwing 36 touchdown passes and 55 interceptions. This year, there are three uniquely talented defensive players who will be available for the supplemental draft, an unusually high number. Adonis Alexander, CB (Virginia Tech)Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY SportsAlexander may be the highest graded prospect of any of the three available. He held an individual workout last week that was attended by 26 NFL teams, and privately met with four teams, including the Saints. John Sigler, of the Canal Street Chronicles, wrote about Alexander's workout herehttps://www.canalstreetchronicles.co...xanderAlexander led the Hokies with 4 interceptions in 2015, adding 2 more in 2016 and 1 last year. He possesses good size (6'2, 195-lbs.) and explosive leaping ability. Although he didn't run well at his workout, Alexander has good enough straight line speed to keep up with most wideouts. He has solid competitive ball skills, breaking up 17 passes during his college career, and can be effective in either man coverage or off the ball. Alexander is solid in run support as well, and has the tackling skills to possibly even project to safety. His biggest concern on the field is his short area quickness and change of direction ability. Smaller/quicker receivers have given him fits at times, and he doesn't have great recovery speed once beaten. An even bigger concern however, is Alexander's off-field issues. He was recently ruled academically ineligible for the 2018 season, forcing him to apply for the supplemental draft. Perhaps more concerning than that are numerous run-ins over team rules and legal incidents, causing him to be suspended twice from the Hokies. Alexander was thought to be a potential late-1st or 2nd round pick entering the 2018 collegiate season Youth Customized New Orleans Saints Jerseys , but character concerns will likely prevent any team from investing much to get him. Sam Beal, CB (Western Michigan)Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsBeal is a prototypical man-to-man coverage corner, capable of playing either slot or outside positions. He actually came to Western Michigan as a wide receiver, but moved to cornerback in his sophomore year of 2016, and was second on the team in passes defensed. He led the Broncos in pass breakups during his junior season a year ago, and also intercepted two passes. He was a track star in high school, and has the raw speed to stay step for step with almost any wideout. Beal has decent size (6'1, 185-lbs.), a long reach to disrupt the opposing receiver, and competes hard for the ball. He is a fluid athlete as well, with excellent change of direction. He is best utilized in press coverage, mirrors his receiver effectively, and has good physicality at the line of scrimmage. Beal is still very inexperienced as a defender, and it often shows in zone or coverage off the ball. Although a willing tackler, he tends to take bad angles in pursuit. He was forced to declare for the supplemental draft when ruled academically ineligible for the upcoming collegiate season. Beal looks to be a project with good upside, and could have worked his way into the middle of the 1st round of the 2019 draft with a solid season at Western Michigan. Brandon Bryant, S(Mississippi St.)John Reed-USA TODAY SportsBryant was one of the most athletic safeties in the nation on a very good Mississippi State defense. A highly touted recruit out of high school, he led the Bulldogs with 3 interceptions as a freshman in 2015, including a touchdown return. He would only have two interceptions over his next two seasons, but was a key part of the Mississippi State defense against both the pass and run. Bryant has explosive acceleration, solid natural cover skills, and the strength to play down in the box against the run. He has the measurables of a top caliber defensive back, but many scouts have questioned his maturity and instincts. He was dismissed from Mississippi State early this spring for academic reasons, and elected to file for the NFL rather than transfer. A number of scouts were already hesitant about his football instincts entering the 2018 college season, and he had regressed during his time with the Bulldogs. Despite Bryant's physical attributes, he was often victimized in coverage, and showed poor anticipation and play diagnosis. He had been considered a developmental prospect for next year's NFL draft entering the college season. Photo by Tony Duffy/Getty ImagesIt seems highly unlikely that New Orleans will give up a high selection to get any of these players, like they did in 1981 to get Dave Wilson. The Saints are already currently without a first round draft choice next spring, having traded it to the Green Bay Packers to draft Marcus Davenport with 14th overall selection this year. The last player selected in the supplemental draft to have significant success was wide receiver Josh Gordon, obtained in 2012 by the Cleveland Browns with a second round pick. The immensely talented Gordon has been brilliant when he's played, but has had a litany of difficulties off the field. He has been suspended multiple times by the league www.thesaintsfootballauthentic.com , and played in just 10 of 64 games since 2014 because of his issues. Quarterback, now wide receiver, Terrelle Pryor was selected by the Oakland Raiders in 2011 and has had some success since moving to wideout. The best success story from a supplemental draft pick is Chris Carter, who would go on to a Hall of Fame career at wide receiver after being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1987. Quarterback Bernie Kosar (Browns, 1985), running back Bobby Humphrey (Broncos, 1989), receiver Rob Moore (Jets, 1990), along with linebackers Brian Bosworth (Seahawks, 1987) and Ahmad Brooks (Packers, 2006) have had some success as supplemental selections throughout the league's history as well. The New Orleans Saints have a young, but talented secondary that already has solid depth that has been built over the last two years. While it would be a surprise if the Saints have any activity in next month's supplemental draft, the talent of the players available may be worth the risk of investing a future mid-round selection should any of the three still be available.What if the 49ers Fail to Score at the End of the 2011 Divisional Round? Right up there with the “Minnesota Miracle,” the 2011 NFC Divisional Round game against the San Francisco 49ers is one of the most soul-sucking games of the Sean Payton Era for the New Orleans Saints and their fans.The 2011 season for the New Orleans Saints will go down as one of the biggest lost opportunities of the franchise. The offense was electric. The Saints had 5 Pro Bowlers on offense that season: Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, Carl Nicks, Jahri Evans, and Jermon Bushrod. Drew Brees slung the ball all season, passing for a then-NFL record 5,476 passing yards while also leading the league in completion percentage at 71.2%. He threw for an amazing 46 passing TDs while only totaling 14 interceptions. And we’ve said Jimmy Graham went to the Pro Bowl, but this was his coming out party. He finished the year with 1,310 receiving yards, still the highest total of his career. The Saints also had a four-headed rushing attack with Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, and Chris Ivory, with the four combining for over 2,000 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs, with another 1 New Orleans Saints T-Shirt ,100 yards in the air, and 8 receiving TDs. It was truly the Greatest Show on Turf.Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesThe Saints dominated their way through the 2011 regular season to the tune of 13-3, winning the NFC South, but only the third best record in the NFC. The Saints finished behind the #1 seed Aaron Rodgers-led Green Bay Packers and the #2 seed, the former divisional rival San Francisco 49ers. The Saints made quick work of the Detroit Lions in the first round of the playoffs, dispatching of the Lions 28-45 in the Dome. Then came the divisional round matchup against the 2nd seeded San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick...What if it had gone differently...?The 49ers had just scored a touchdown and missed the 2-point conversion to go up 24-29 with under two minutes left in regulation. The Saints then took the lead on a touchdown and successful two point conversion, 32-29, with under a minute remaining, only to have their heart ripped out with 7 seconds left as Alex Smith hit Vernon Davis on a touchdown pass to seal the game for San Francisco.But what if Malcolm Jenkins of the Saints is able to tackle Vernon Davis immediately after the catch? The 49ers would be on their own 49 yard line with only 37 seconds left in the game. They would have been forced to call their final timeout, with likely only a couple of chances to get into David Akers’s range. Akers made the Pro Bowl that year, but missed his only chances at field goals over 50 yards. If the 49ers can’t get at least twenty more yards (with no timeouts and half a minute on the clock), the 49ers don’t go on to win the game.But then what? What happens with the Saints if they go on to the NFC Championship Game?Assuming everything else plays out the same in the 2011 season, the Saints would host the #4 seed that just shocked the #1 seed Green Bay Packers: Eli Manning and the New York Giants.Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty ImagesIt shouldn’t come as a surprise, though, that the Giants gave the Packers everything they could handle in the playoffs. In Week 13, the Green Bay Packers won 38-35 on a Mason Crosby field goal with 3 seconds left in the game to steal a victory on the road. But guess what happened one week earlier in Week 12? The New Orleans Saints demolished the Giants in New Orleans 24-49.The Saints scored more than 40 points the last 5 games they played of the 2011 season (and postseason). On the other hand, the Giants failed to score 40 points any any point during a single time of the 2011 season and postseason. The Saints didn’t lose a single game at home during the 2011 regular season and postseason, and there would be no reason to think they wouldn’t beat the Giants in the divisional round in the Dome for the second time that year.That would mean the NFL would be getting one of the elite Super Bowl matchups that has never happened (yet): Drew Brees vs Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesIf you remember the 2011 Saints team, you’d probably remember that while they had a decent overall defense (13th overall), they were pretty poor against the pass (30th against the pass). And while you might think this means the Saints would not be able to hold up against Brady and the Pats, it’s not like the Giants were world-beaters. The G-Men were only one spot worse at 29th against the pass (and significantly worse as a team defense, 25th overall).The biggest difference between the Saints and Giants? The offense we’ve already talked about. Remember: the Giants didn’t put up 40 points in a single game in 2011. The Giants had only the 9th best offense in 2011. The Patriots had the second. The top offense in 2011? Of course: your New Orleans Saints. Once the Saints get past the Giants to advance to the Super Bowl, there would be no reason the Saints chances at winning Super Bowl XLVI isn’t - at worst - a toss up. It would be likely, though, that the Saints would enter as the favorites to win.If Vernon Davis just tripped on his own shoelaces with 35 seconds left to go in the game on January 14, 2012, the Saints could have had two Lombardis in three years.What could have been...