The NFL supplemental draft kicks off today at 1 pm, and with it being the slowest part of the off-season, every football-starved fan’s attention has been focused on this year’s top prospect, Baylor WR Josh Gordon.

For those not familiar with the supplemental draft, allow me to offer a brief explanation.

The Supplemental Draft is an opportunity for players who did not enter the regular draft to make themselves available to NFL teams. Players generally enter the Supplemental Draft because they either missed the filing deadline for the NFL Draft or because eligibility issues prevents them from playing in college the following year.

If a team is interested in a player, the team will send the league office an email with the round in which they would like to select the player. The team that submits the highest bid is awarded the rights to a player. If more than one team submit the same bid for the same player, a complicated lottery system kicks in to determine which team will be awarded that player. You can read more about that here.

Eight players are eligible in this year’s supplemental draft, including the aforementioned Josh Gordon.

Reports have indicated that a number of teams are interested in Gordon – 21 attended his workout – and according to Adam Caplan, all four AFC East teams were present. It has also been widely speculated that RG3 is pushing hard for the Redskins to go over Gordon, as the two played together in college.

Given Gordon’s productivity, even over a year ago, there is little doubt that he is the top prospect in this year’s supplemental draft. In 2010, he caught 42 balls for 714 yards and seven touchdowns and averaged an impressive 17 yards per catch.  Word is that some high ranking people at Baylor think he is better than now Titans WR Kendall Wright.

Scout Matt Waldman referred to him as a ”mix between a raw Terrell Owens and Demaryius Thomas” and that “his potential could be as limitless as Calvin Johnson.”

Other not-so flattering things have been written about Gordon, including  ”too risky,” “overhyped ” and of course, the oft over-used term scouting term “character concerns” has been used a time or two. There are, in fact “character” concerns with Gordon, the majority of which surrounds his suspension from Baylor for a failed marijuana test (SMH). Following his suspension, Gordon transferred to Utah, but he was forced to leave due to financial issues. Gordon then attempted to enroll at Houston for the 2012 year, but the NCAA ruled that he would have to sit out the season, which then prompted the receiver to enter the supplemental draft.

Most experts suspect that Gordon will be selected by a team with nothing less than a 2nd round pick, while others feel a 4th rounder is a more appropriate estimate.

Because there is a possibility, however small, that Gordon could become a Jet, I combed through a half dozen scouting reports on Gordon to get a better feel for the receiver.

Pros

• Ideal size – At 6’3, 224, this is obviously one of the biggest plusses for Gordon.
• Hands – Solid hands, good hand/eye coordination, great ball location, demonstrates ability to make the catch and extending the hands/arms away from his frame.
• Excellent run blocker. This is a point that is consistent among all of the evals and one that Jets fans will surely like.
• Speed is impressive once he gets going. Runs a sub 4.4 40, according to some reports. ESPN is reporting he ran a 4.52 at his workout on Tuesday.
• Tons of upside

Cons

• “Character Concerns” (See above)
• “Straighline guy” that can’t run routes. (My take? Sounds to me like he ran his routes very well at Baylor, people just question that system and his ability to bend when changing directions, something he was not asked to do as often in college).
• Not explosive off the line of scrimmage.
• Limited experience in playing big teams.

Do you think the Jets should take a flier on Gordon? Share your thoughts below.