Rams select Clemson's Isaiah Battle in NFL supplemental draft
The NFL's supplemental draft took place Thursday, and just one player was selected: Isaiah Battle, who was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the fifth round.
Battle, an offensive tackle out of Clemson, was the only eligible player selected out of a pool of seven, the league announced Thursday. By making the pick, the Rams forfeit their fifth-round pick in next season's draft.
Battle, who stands 6'6" and weighs 312 pounds, is the first player selected in the supplemental draft since 2012, when Cleveland selected Baylor receiver Josh Gordon in the second round. He's the fifth offensive lineman St. Louis has selected this year, including those selected in the NFL draft.
Battle made 11 starts at left tackle for Clemson last season.
Battle dealt with a number of off-field problems in recent years, including a citation for marijuana possession and speeding last month. He was suspended multiple times in college, including a 2013 one-game suspension for throwing a punch at a North Carolina State player.
“We felt it was an opportunity to get an earlier round value for a later round price,” Rams General Manager Les Snead said in a release. “He’s going to practice what would’ve been his final year of college eligibility with us, go through our offseason program, and then start his rookie season a year from now. This will allow us to bring him along gradually both on and off the field. Now it’s up to Isaiah and us to go work to reach his potential as a person and player.”
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- Jeremy Woo
