The 2016 NFL Supplemental Draft is set to take place later this morning, scheduled to start at 10 a.m. PT. The draft will not air on television, but instead involves a blind bid system using 2017 draft picks. Very few players are picked in the supplemental draft, but it can happen from time-to-time. Last year, the then St. Louis Rams selected Clemson offensive tackle Isaiah Battle, using a fifth round pick. Prior to that, the last supplemental pick was Josh Gordon in 2012, which saw the Cleveland Browns use a 2013 second round pick.
Eligible players
There are six players available for selection in this year’s draft. Players must apply for eligibility because it requires they have not been eligible for the regular draft back in April. Participants in the supplemental draft have usually had some kind of off-field issue (legal, academic, family, etc). The most famous supplemental picks were Cris Carter, Brian Bosworth, and Bernie Kosar. Here is the list of players eligible to be selected:
Eddie D’Antuono, LS, Virginia Tech
Ra’Zahn Howard, DT, Purdue
Jalen Overstreet, RB, Sam Houston State
Tee Shepard, DB, Mississippi
Rashaun Simonise, WR, University of Calgary
Cameron Walton, DE, Concordia, Alabama
San Francisco 49ers history
The San Francisco 49ers have selected five players in the supplemental draft. In 1978, they selected running back Rod Connors. In 1985, they selected running back Roosevelt Snipes. In 1984, there was a supplemental draft specifically for the folded USFL. In that draft, they selected wide receiver Derrick Crawford, offensive tackle Joe Conwell, and running back Mark Schellen. Current 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was originally selected in the supplemental draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Draft order
The NFL does not use the regular previous year record for the supplemental draft. Instead, the league uses a lottery to determine order. Teams are weighted based on record, similar to the NBA lottery, but they are broken down into three groups. The first tier is teams with six or fewer wins the previous season (including the 49ers). The second tier is teams with seven or more wins that didn't make the playoffs. The final tier is the 12 playoff teams.
Draft picks
The entire draft takes place via email. A team submits the player or players they want and the corresponding round in which they would take them. The team in the group with the highest round bid will be awarded the player. They would then lose their pick from that round in the next draft.
Scouting reports
Dan Kadar has a preview up at Mocking the Draft. It sounds like Purdue defensive tackle Ra’Zahn Howard is the most likely prospect to be drafted, as he has the body of a traditional nose tackle. University of Calgary wide receiver Rashaun Simonise has the height (6’5) team’s like, but at 201 pounds he probably stands to add some size to his frame.
The 49ers hold an extra pick in each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds in the 2017 NFL Draft. I don’t think we see them spend one on a wide receiver or defensive tackle, but maybe they surprise us.