There are many ways for NFL teams to acquire talent, most years that includes a supplemental draft. The NFL will not hold one this year, for the second straight year.
Known to fans of the Cleveland Browns for how the team acquired both Bernie Kosar and Josh Gordon, the supplemental draft rarely has led to impact players at the NFL level. Players like Kosar, Gordon and Chris Carter are the exception to the rule.
College players can apply to be included in a supplemental draft for a variety of reasons primarily related to them losing their college eligibility after the date required to apply for the regular NFL draft.
Kosar took advantage of loopholes that no longer exist. Terrelle Pryor is another famous example as he applied for the supplemental draft following an investigation into impermissible benefits while at The Ohio State University.
College players will not have the supplemental draft option this year:
The NFL won’t hold a supplemental draft in 2021, per source.
Under the CBA, it’s up to the league and for the second straight year it won’t have one.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 29, 2021
Since Gordon was drafted in 2012, only four players have been selected in the supplemental draft. Isaiah Battle, drafted in 2015, bounced around the league and is currently a free agent. Sam Beal, selected in the third round by the New York Giants in 2018, has only played six games in the NFL. Adonis Alexander, also selected in 2018, has played in nine games while Jalen Thompson, selected in 2019, has played in 20 in two seasons after being selected in the fifth round.
It is unknown, at this time, whether anyone applied for the supplemental draft prior to this decision from the NFL.