2012 Supplemental Draft Profile: Ed Wesley

Maurice Jones-Drew is in a standoff with the Jaguars regarding the two years remaining on his contract and Rashad Jennings is entering the final year of his. It seems a very real possibility, if not probability, that at least one of the two backs will not be with the Jaguars heading into the 2014 NFL season.

Behind them is the hole that was left by the release of Deji Karim that may be filled by DuJuan Harris, but I'm inclined to think otherwise. Long story short, the Jaguars may need to consider acquiring another top young running back for the future of their team.

That possible need could potentially be quelled on Thursday during the 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft, though, where many consider former TCU running back Ed Wesley to be the second best prospect available.

The instant reaction that I usually have to a player in the Supplemental Draft is to immediately question what it was they did wrong to earn a spot in that draft instead of the regular draft in April. That is not the case with Wesley.

Wesley initially considered leaving TCU after the 2011 season to enter the 2012 NFL Draft so as to afford to assist his ailing mother, but instead decided to stay. But in late March, long past the deadline to declare for the draft he changed his mind and left the school for "family reasons."

Now Wesley is one of eight players that the NFL has granted eligibility to for the supplemental draft and could be selected in the rounds after former Baylor WR Josh Gordon.

On Monday, Wesley held his pro day and posted rather pedestrian numbers that lead most in the media to project Wesley to go undrafted. At 5-8, 196 he ran just a 4.67 40 time, but one scout told Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com that the times weren't as bad as the media are making them out to be.

"Look, he wasn't in tip-top shape. And the forty time is slower than you'd like, especially for a back of that size. But we could see on tape that he wasn't a burner. The reality is it isn't fair to compare this guy who has had a couple of weeks to prepare for his Pro Day to guys drafted in April who had three times as long before their workouts."

Other than his deficiencies in the 40 yard dash, Wesley's other numbers during his workout, which was reportedly attended by 12 teams, were relatively strong. His 6.91 three cone drill would have ranked 4th at the combine among running backs ahead of guys like Isaiah Pead and David Wilson. He would've also ranked in the top 10 in the short shuttle, long shuttle, broad jump and vertical jump.

Unlike Gordon, Wesley is a player that wouldn't surprise me if the Jaguars were to bid on in the Supplemental Draft. Anything more than a 6th round pick, though, would surprise me.