The NFL supplemental draft continues to be a non-entity in the football calendar, as it has been confirmed that it will not take place in 2024. This marks the continuation of a hiatus that has persisted since 2020, leaving a once-intriguing aspect of the NFL draft process in dormancy.
The last eventful moment for the NFL supplemental draft occurred in 2019, when the Arizona Cardinals selected safety Jalen Thompson in the fifth round. Thompson's selection is notable not just for his entry into the NFL, but also because it has become a historical footnote in a process that has gone quiet since then.
A Brief History of the Supplemental Draft
The NFL supplemental draft was established in 1977, providing teams with an additional opportunity to enhance their rosters outside the traditional draft timeline. The draft spans seven rounds, similar to the regular draft, and allows teams to pick players who missed the regular draft for various reasons.
The structure of the supplemental draft involves categorizing teams based on their performance from the previous season. Essentially, teams with poorer records get priority, offering them a chance to fortify their roster with players who, for one reason or another, found themselves outside the regular draft cycle. However, there comes a trade-off; if a team makes a selection, it forfeits its corresponding selection in the following year’s regular draft.
Expanded Parameters Since 1993
In 1993, the supplemental draft extended its parameters to include players who never attended college, broadening the pool of potential draftees. This change was intended to accommodate circumstances where players might have faced academic or personal challenges that kept them out of college football. Yet, despite the broadened criteria, the draft has not garnered significant activity in recent years.
Recent Activity and the Lack Thereof
Since 2020, the supplemental draft has not been held, and the drought extends into 2024. Last year, two eligible players were listed for the supplemental draft but went undrafted, reinforcing the declining interest and utility of this secondary drafting process. It seems that teams are more reliant on traditional scouting and the regular draft to fill their ranks, rather than rolling the dice on the supplemental draft.
Overall, the NFL supplemental draft has not only become an afterthought for teams but also for fans and analysts alike. Once a notable event in the NFL calendar, it now serves as a historical curiosity, a byproduct of changing strategic priorities and scouting technologies in the league.
The NFL has yet to signal if and when the supplemental draft will make its return or whether it will remain an artifact of the past. As the league continues to evolve, the future of the supplemental draft remains uncertain, leaving one to wonder if it will ever regain its place in the annual football narrative.