NEW YORK - Southern California defensive tackle Manuel Wright was chosen in the fifth round of the NFL's supplemental draft Thursday. Wright, who was entering his junior season, was the only player chosen in the draft. He was eligible because he is three years out of high school.
"We believe we have gotten great value from our supplemental pick by adding a player of Manuel's talent to our roster at the critical position of defensive line," Dolphins coach Nick Saban said.
As a sophomore last season, the 6-foot-6, 290-pound Wright backed up Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson. Patterson was taken by Philadelphia late in the first round of the draft in April, and Cody went early in the second to Detroit. Playing in 11 games, two of them starts, Wright had 23 tackles, including six for a loss, and recovered two fumbles.
COWBOYS: The team traded cornerback Pete Hunter to the Jets for a conditional draft pick. Hunter played in only three games last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He asked for a trade following the 2004 season, after sliding on the depth chart behind free-agent acquisitions Anthony Henry and Aaron Glenn, and Terence Newman. In three seasons, Hunter has played in 30 games with three interceptions, nine passes defended and two fumbles recovered.
SAINTS: The team settled on a three-year contract with defensive tackle Jason Jefferson, its sixth-round draft pick. Jefferson, who played at Wisconsin, is the first Saints 2005 draft choice to agree to terms. The 6-foot-1, 305-pounder was a three-year starter, with 100 tackles (44 solo), five sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 41 games.
ARENA LEAGUE: Utah's new team will be called the Blaze. "We wanted to select a name that would embody the essence of Arena football and capture the energy and intensity of this sport," president Jason Jones said. "A blaze is that brand of fire that spreads quickly. It's hot. It's ferocious and it's loud." It joins the league next season under coach and general manager Danny White.
