What Is the NFL Supplemental Draft?

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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon (12) catches a 1-yard touchdown pass against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013.
(AP Photo/David Richard)
Chase Kiddy @chaseakiddy Jul 12, 2023, 4:34 PM

The NFL Supplemental Draft is a summer follow-up to the annual, seven-round draft that takes place in the spring. It’s designed to create NFL opportunities for players who didn’t declare for the initial draft but cannot return to play college football in the fall.

Players who enter the Supplemental Draft are usually facing some type of unexpected eligibility issue. Some are academic; others may be disciplinary.

The first NFL Supplemental Draft was held in 1977. Notable supplemental draftees include Cris Carter and Josh Gordon.

Because of the narrow parameters it’s designed for, there isn’t always a pool of players that are eligible for the Supplemental Draft. 

On July 11, 2023, the NFL held its first Supplemental Draft since 2019. Purdue wide receiver Milton Wright was available to draft, but none of the 32 teams chose to select him.

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About the Author

Chase Kiddy

Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.