How does the NFL supplemental draft work?

i hear about the supplemental draft, which just happened, but have no idea how it works. how do players become elligible for it? How is the draft order determined? Why do they have it? Does it have any effect on the real draft?

How does the NFL supplemental draft work?nba 2k

The supplemental draft is for players who either were not eligible for the first draft due to age, needing to finish summer classes, whatever; or for players who chose NOT to enter the first draft, possibly due to injury or performance concerns.

The draft order is determined in similar fashion to the draft order for the main draft back in te spring, but they don't have the compensatory picks, nor do they trade picks. The order is striaght from finishing order, with no trades from year to year or other things that add and remove a team's picks.

As for why they have it, part of the reason is what I typed above about players, the other is that the NFL looks for another chance to sign players that can make an impact, and this supplemental draft is like a closing sale at a store. It is the last chance to pick up players fromcollegebefore the season starts (not counting undrafted free agents who have likely already been invited to camps) and it is possible to get some bargains.

It effects next years draft because any team that takes a player in the supplemental draft then gives up their draft pick in next years draft. Cinncinnati took a LB in the thrid round, so they then give up next years third round pick.

What this all means is that teams interested in the very small numbers of supplemental draftees have to decide what value in next year's draft a player would have, as well as what other teams would likely value him. Cinncinnati igured someone ahead of them would have taken Brooks in the fourth round, so if they wanted him they needed to take him in the third round. As a result, supplemental drafts go much faster since most teams pass on a pick (and almost no first round picks are ever taken) and most teams make no picks in the supplemental draft.