Commanders Targeting WR in First NFL Supplemental Draft Since 2019?

With some initial practices under their belts if the Washington Commanders decide they need receiver help, they could turn to the supplemental draft to find it.

The Washington Commanders have a pretty stacked receiver group featuring star player and team captain Terry McLaurin, 2022 first round NFL Draft pick Jahan Dotson, and dynamic playmaker Curtis Samuel.

Still, the Commanders could always use depth and more players to develop even as veteran Marcus Kemp comes over from the Kansas City Chiefs with close-up knowledge of coach Eric Bieniemy’s system and style.

And don’t forget Dyami Brown, who has collegiate familiarity with quarterback Sam Howell and two years of NFL experience. 

But with the NFL announcing the first supplemental draft since 2019 this year, and Purdue receiver Milton Wright the only player available in it at this moment, it’s an interesting enough event that even if Washington may not participate in the proceedings we should take time to refresh our knowledge of it.

First of all, this draft will happen on July 11 and according to the NFL, “serve prospects who were not eligible for the annual spring draft for various reasons.”

But this isn’t your usual draft proceeding as it will not be televised, and no war rooms will be set up to get those cool insider videos of the moment a team drafted the player they wanted all along. 

Instead, teams will place a bid on a player entered into the supplementary draft if they choose to do so. Once all bids are collected, the team that bids the highest pick gets the player. 

If the Commanders bid a fifth-round pick to add Wright to their roster, then the team’s 2024 pick in that round will be forfeited, but the player can play this season.

The draft order determines whether or not that Washington pick would be higher than another team entering a bid if both submit for the same round. That order is determined by lottery with three groups of NFL teams stacked within themselves. 

The first group is teams that had six or less wins in the previous season. Those teams will be held in lottery within themselves and determine the order at the top of the supplemental draft. 

Next is non-playoff teams, and that’s where the Commanders will come in. 

Finally, the teams that did make the playoffs will stack the final 14 picks, again via lottery. 

With seven teams finishing 2022 with six wins or less, this means Washington could be as high as eighth, but could also be as low as No. 18.

The last player selected in a supplementary draft was defensive back Jalen Thompson who was won with a fifth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals, which they then lost from their 2020 draft class. 

Hall of Fame receiver Chris Carter is easily the best supplementary draft pick in NFL history after being snagged by the Philadelphia Eagles who used a fourth-round pick in the 1988 selection meeting to get him. 

Given the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Commanders coaching staff, if Wright presents an opportunity to be more successful this year, perhaps coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mathew will decide to roll the dice. 

You never know, Washington could get a Hall of Fame receiver out of it.

Find David Harrison on the Locked On Commanders podcast or text him directly at (202) 760-2188.

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Washington Commanders? Click Here.

Follow Commander Country on Twitter.

Want even more Washington Commanders news? Check out the SI.com team page here