The Arizona Cardinals selected Washington State safety Jalen Thompson in the fifth round of the NFL supplemental draft on Wednesday.
Thompson was ruled ineligible for his senior season at Washington State due to a violation of NCAA rules, the school announced late last month.
Thompson had 191 career tackles (11.5 for loss) and six interceptions in 39 games with the Cougars. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2017 and was an honorable mention all-conference pick last season. He worked out in front of NFL scouts on Monday in Los Angeles, with reported times of 4.47 and 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
By selecting Thompson, the Cardinals give up their fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Four other players entered the supplemental draft but were not selected — West Virginia wide receiver Marcus Simms, Syracuse linebacker Shyheim Cullen, St. Francis defensive back Bryant Perry and junior college tight end Devonaire Clarington. They become free agents.
Simms will sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars, pending a physical, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who reported that Simms had several offers.
The supplemental draft takes place via email. Three groups of teams — teams that had six or fewer wins have a weighted advantage — are allowed to submit bids, with the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots having the least likely chance to win a bid.
Forty-six players have been selected since the supplemental draft began in 1977. Two were chosen in 2018 — Western Michigan cornerback Sam Beal (third round, New York Giants) and Virginia Tech defensive back Adonis Alexander (sixth round, Washington Redskins).
