Baltimore, Dallas, and Miami have each secured the maximum of four compensatory picks for the upcoming NFL draft in April. These selections, which will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, are based on the teams’ free agency activities from the previous year.
The NFL announced that the San Francisco 49ers also received four compensatory picks with three attributed to last year’s free agency moves and an additional pick for aiding in the head coaching development of DeMeco Ryans.
Moreover, the Los Angeles Rams and the Detroit Lions were awarded third-round compensatory picks as part of the league’s diversity initiative, which recognizes teams that develop minority candidates who go on to become head coaches or general managers for other teams. The Rams received a pick for Raheem Morris, who is now with Atlanta, while Detroit’s pick was for Aaron Glenn’s move to the New York Jets.
A total of 35 compensatory draft picks have been dispersed among 15 teams this year. These picks are allocated from the third through seventh rounds, with 32 of them based on teams losing more or higher valued free agents than they gained during last offseason’s free agency. The remaining picks are awarded to teams that have developed minorities who were hired as head coaches or general managers by other teams.
The Ravens, Cowboys, and Dolphins have each benefitted from acquiring the maximum number of picks through free agency adjustments. Miami will have additional selections in the third and fourth rounds, along with two in the seventh round, following the departure of players like Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt.
Baltimore has boosted its draft lineup with selections in the fourth and fifth rounds as well as two in the sixth round after notable departures including Jadeveon Clowney and Ronald Darby. The Ravens, since the inception of the compensatory system in 1994, lead the league with 60 awarded comp picks through free agency.
The Cowboys will enjoy three fifth-round and one sixth-round selections due to losing players such as Dorance Armstrong and Tyler Biadasz.
Minnesota and the New York Giants have also been granted extra third-round picks, with the Vikings’ pick following the departure of quarterback Kirk Cousins to Atlanta, and the Giants’ pick tied to safety Xavier McKinney’s move to Green Bay.
Compensatory free agents are determined using a specialized formula that takes into account factors like salary, playing time, and postseason honors. However, not all free agents lost or signed by a team fall under this formula.
