For the second year in a row, the NFL has elected not to hold the supplemental draft, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Last year, the league decided against holding the event largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a supplemental draft, each team would “bid” on a player by declaring the round they would take them, and the team that lists the highest round wins the rights to them.
The supplemental draft pool features players who didn’t enter the traditional NFL draft due to eligibility, disciplinary or other reasons.
The last supplemental draft in 2019 saw one player selected. The Cardinals gave up their 2020 fifth-round pick to take safety Jalen Thompson.
Normally, finding real talent in these drafts is slim. However, there are diamonds in the rough here and there, and it just so happens that the Chargers were able to find one, with that being defensive tackle Jamal Williams.
Williams was drafted in the second-round of the 1998 NFL supplemental draft out of Oklahoma State University.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Williams was a huge piece of the Chargers’ success on the interior part of the defensive line for more than a decade. He was a wide-bodied, run-stuffing nose tackle who kept linebackers clean by occupying two and three defenders at a time.
In 12 seasons with the Bolts, Williams had 396 total tackles, 54 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries.
He was named four-time Chargers Lineman of the Year, three-time Chargers Defensive Player of the Year and 2008 Co-MVP.
