What is the NFL Supplemental Draft

On July 12^th, the NFL held its yearly supplemental draft. I've spoken to a few people who are not sure what the supplemental draft is, what it's for, and how it works.

In short, the supplemental draft is held every year after the official NFL draft and before the season starts. The draft is for college players who did not enter the regular draft because they intended to continue to play college football but are now ineligible, usually because of disciplinary action or academics. The supplemental draft is a much smaller event than the regular draft (only 10 players in the 2007 supplemental draft), and rarely results in the acquisition of big impact players.

The supplemental draft process is different than the regular draft. Teams are divided into three groups based on their previous season's performance:

• Teams with 6 or fewer wins.
  
• Teams with more than 6 wins that did not make the playoffs.
  
• The remaining 12 playoff teams.
  

Rather than draft the players in a pre-defined order, the teams submit a bid to the commissioner detailing what player they want and what round they want to select him in. If no other team selects that player in a higher round, the team is awarded the player at the cost of a draft pick in the corresponding round of the following season's regular draft. For example, if the Redskins select a player in the 3^rd round of the 2007 supplemental draft, it will cost them a 3^rd round draft pick in the 2008 regular draft.

From the supplemental drafts inception in 1977 through 2006, 35 players have been selected. Some of the bigger names include Bernie Kosar, Brian Bosworth, Chris Carter, Steve Walsh, Timm Rosenbach, and Mike Wahle. Of the 10 players eligible in the 2007 supplemental draft, Paul Oliver (CB - Georgia) was selected in the 4^th round by the Chargers, and Jared Gaither (OT – Maryland) selected in the 5^th round by the Ravens.