NFL Ditches Supplemental Draft for Fourth Year in Row Amid Lack of Eligible Players

The NFL has opted to cancel the supplemental draft for the fourth year in a row, according to Sports Illustrated. The draft is designed for players in unique situations who have experienced a change in eligibility after the NFL Draft. It offers these players an opportunity to join an NFL team instead of waiting until the next regular draft. To be eligible, players must be at least three years removed from high school and can apply through the league office.

If the supplemental draft were to take place, it would consist of seven rounds with teams divided into three groups based on their performance in the previous season. Group one includes teams with six or fewer wins and no playoff appearance, while group two consists of teams with six or more wins but missed the playoffs. The last group is made up of playoff teams.

During the supplemental draft, teams submit bids for players and the highest bidder from group one gets to select that player in the earliest round. If a team selects a player in the supplemental draft, they forfeit their pick in that same round of the following year’s regular draft. The most recent selection made in the supplemental draft was by Arizona Cardinals who picked safety Jalen Thompson in the fifth round in 2019.

The supplemental draft was first introduced in 1977 as an option for former college students and was later expanded to include players who did not attend college. However, given a lack of eligible players recently, the NFL has decided not to hold it this year.