The Dude

I’ve never understood the supplemental draft. Can you explain how it works?
I don’t remember hearing we acquired anyone of note through it.

AsylumGuido

What is the supplemental draft?

The supplemental draft is held every year after the regular draft in April. It's concept is based on prospects who did not enter the regular draft and want to submit their name to play in the NFL right away. The most common case occurs when a collegiate player is ruled ineligible for the upcoming season after the regular draft, which, without the supplemental draft, would leave him in limbo for an entire year. If a player wants to be included in the supplemental draft, a formal petition needs to be filed with the league and not every player is guaranteed admittance. Players need to be at least three years removed from high school to be eligible for the supplemental draft.

How does it work?

The supplemental draft order is different from the regular draft order. Teams are separated into three groups based on the previous season; the first group are non-playoff teams that had six or fewer wins. The second group are non-playoff teams with more than six wins. And the final group are playoff teams. The order in those groups are determined by a weighted lottery with the teams with the fewest wins given the best chance to win the earliest picks. Bids for players are submitted blindly by teams with the round that given team would want to select a given player. Obviously, the team highest in the draft order who submits the earliest-round bid for a player will be awarded that player. When that happens, that club forfeits a pick in the same round of next year's regular draft.

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill