The National Football League front office has informed all 32 teams that the Supplemental Draft won’t proceed this season. This announcement marks the fifth year since a player joined the NFL through this route. That year, the Arizona Cardinals selected defensive back Jalen Thompson, leading to the forfeiture of Arizona’s fifth-round pick in 2020.
The NFL initiated the Supplemental Draft in 1977 for eligible players who opted to defer from joining the main draft. This setup favors athletes with irregularities with their eligibility for disciplinary or academic reasons.
We haven't seen a player drafted in the Supplemental Draft over the last 5 years - the longest drought since the Supp Draft started back in the '70s.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) June 27, 2024
Scouts won't be sad to see it disappear completely. https://t.co/43v13oV2iR
When the Supplemental Draft started, the Seattle Seahawks selected former Notre Dame running back Al Hunter, who was suspended for disciplinary reasons. The Seahawks forfeited a fourth-round pick in the 1978 draft.
A decade later, the Seahawks also selected Brian Bosworth through the Supplemental Draft. He was eligible for it because he graduated from Oklahoma a year early, even though he was suspended from the team.
Forty-six players have been selected through the Supplemental Draft, including quarterback Bernie Kosar and wide receivers Cris Carter and Josh Gordon. Other Supplemental Draft players who became Pro Bowlers include Bobby Humphrey, Rob Moore, Mike Wahle, Jamal Williams, and Ahmad Brooks.
The Supplemental Draft works like a lottery wherein teams bid for available players. However, it doesn't yield much fruit because college players left without a school enter the transfer portal to continue their eligibility.
-Lance Fernandez