NFL decided not to stage Supplemental Draft this year. The league informed the teams about its decision via mail.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the decision was made due to the current coronavirus pandemic. The event was previously set to take place at some point in July.
Pelissero adds that the potential entrants in the supplemental draft won’t get the free-agent status because of the decision. Instead, they will be draft-eligible next year and will be able to enter the 2021 NFL Draft.
NFL established Supplemental Draft in order to give teams a chance to select players who, for various reasons, weren’t eligible to take part in the regular draft. If a team wants a player, they give their offer to the commissioner’s office in the form of a draft pick. The highest draft pick wins, while the winning team then forfeits the corresponding pick next year.
Most notable Supplemental Draft selections include Oakland Raiders selecting Terrelle Pryor in 2011 and Cleveland Browns, giving up a second-rounder for Josh Gordon in 2012.
The first supplemental draft took place in 1977, and the league held one each year since then, aside from 2008, when there were no applicants.
