League officials announced Thursday that Clemson offensive tackle Isaiah Battle was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the fifth round of the NFL’s Supplemental Draft. The Rams will now forfeit their 2016 5th round pick for selecting Battle. The Clemson tackle was one of seven players eligible for selection, he was lucky enough to be the only one taken.
Battle has talent to make the transition but like all the players in the supplemental draft carries additional baggage. St. Louis selected four offensive linemen in this year’s NFL Draft as they were obviously serious about upgrading the unit. The Rams were also finalists for La’el Collins but he opted to sign with Dallas instead.
The Supplemental Draft was a less stressful day for NFL General Managers as evidence by Rams Executive Vice President of Football Operations Kevin Demoff.
A live look @STLouisRams war room as we were drafting Isaiah Battle in supplemental draft pic.twitter.com/ExdrPQrf83
— Kevin Demoff (@kdemoff) July 9, 2015
Rams GM Les Snead pulled over driving son Logan to Manning Passing Academy to exercise picking OT Isaiah Battle 5th rnd supplemental draft
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) July 9, 2015
Battle becomes the first player selected in the Supplemental draft since Josh Gordon in 2012. Battle’s pro day earlier this week convinced the Rams to take a shot on him. The Rams were one of 25 teams interested in him.
