NFL Reportedly Will Not Hold 2020 Supplemental Draft Amid Pandemic

The NFL reportedly will not hold a supplemental draft this offseason, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 

This event is usually held in July, providing an option for players who might not be eligible to play college football the next season. If a team selects a player in the supplemental draft, they forfeit that round's selection in the draft the following season.

Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports reported in May the NFL wasn't planning to alter its approach as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though there was speculation players could leave school because of the uncertainty of the college football season, Thamel noted only normal reasons would be accepted by the NFL, including suspensions or academic eligibility.

NCAA president Mark Emmert recently said there is "likely" going to be football in the fall but "we're not going to be able to have football in the same way that we're accustomed to seeing it year in and year out," via Seth Davis of The Athletic.

Regardless of adjustments to the college season, players will have to wait until the 2021 draft to enter the NFL.

Though the supplemental draft rarely features more than a few picks each season, there have been plenty of notable players who entered the league in this fashion, including Josh Gordon, Bernie Kosar and Hall-of-Famer Cris Carter.

Last season, the Arizona Cardinals used a fifth-round pick to select safety Jalen Thompson, who had lost his final season of eligibility at Washington State because of a violation of NCAA rules. He appeared in 15 games during his rookie season, starting nine, while totaling 57 tackles.

The New York Giants took Sam Beal in the third round of the 2018 supplemental draft and the defensive back started three games in 2019.