The NFL's Supplemental Draft is making a long-awaited return in 2023 after a two-year hiatus, as the league has granted eligibility to Purdue receiver Milton Wright. Unfortunately, Wright, who had an impressive 2021 season with 57 receptions for 732 yards and seven touchdowns for the Boilermakers, became academically ineligible for the 2022 college football season, prompting him to leave Purdue in May.
The Supplemental Draft offers a special chance for players eligible for the draft but did not participate in the regular selection process. These players may not be able to return to college football during the same year.
Since its inception in 1977, 46 players have been selected through the NFL Supplemental Draft. Its purpose is to accommodate players whose eligibility has been affected by extenuating circumstances and who did not participate in the NFL draft held in the spring.
One notable aspect of the Supplemental Draft is including players who have achieved great success in their NFL careers. The 1984 supplemental draft, in particular, produced three future Pro Football Hall of Famers: Steve Young, Gary Zimmerman, and Reggie White. Their remarkable achievements serve as a testament to the potential that can be found in this unique draft format.
This year, the NFL Supplemental Draft is scheduled for July 11, allowing teams to acquire talent outside of the regular draft. The draft order for the supplemental draft is determined by a lottery system based on the win-loss records from the previous season.
The teams are divided into three groups: those with six or fewer wins, the rest of the non-playoff teams, and the 14 playoff teams. The order within each group is randomly selected, ensuring a fair distribution of opportunities.
When a team expresses interest in drafting a prospect, they place a bid on that player, indicating the desired round in which they would like to select them. If multiple teams submit offers for the same player in the same round, the team with the highest position in the order is awarded the rights to that player.
It is important to note that once a team successfully drafts a player in the supplemental draft, they must forfeit their pick in the corresponding round of the subsequent NFL Draft. This ensures that the team pays a fair price for the talent acquired in the supplemental draft, preventing them from gaining an advantage over other teams in the regular draft.
A recent example of this process occurred in 2019 when the Arizona Cardinals selected defensive back Jalen Thompson in the fifth round of the Supplemental Draft. As a result, the Cardinals forfeited their fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, highlighting the trade-off involved in participating in the supplemental draft.
The NFL Supplemental Draft offers a unique opportunity for teams to acquire talented players who, due to various circumstances, were not part of the regular draft process. It provides a chance for these players to showcase their skills and potentially make a significant impact in the NFL. With the return of the Supplemental Draft in 2023, teams will once again have the chance to uncover hidden gems and bolster their rosters with exceptional talent.