Baltimore, Dallas, and Miami each earned four compensatory picks in the upcoming NFL draft. This is the most any team received, based on last year’s free agency moves.
San Francisco also scored four picks—three from the free agency formula and one for developing coach DeMeco Ryans.
Additionally, two teams got extra picks for hiring minority coaches or general managers from other teams. The Los Angeles Rams earned a pick for developing Atlanta’s head coach, Raheem Morris, while Detroit received one for New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn.
In total, 35 compensatory picks will be shared among 15 teams during the draft, which takes place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, from April 24 to 26.
Picks are awarded from the third to the seventh round. Most are given based on teams losing more or higher-value free agents than they signed in the previous offseason. Some are granted for minority coaches or general managers being hired by other organizations.
The Ravens, Cowboys, and Dolphins topped the list. Miami received picks at the end of the third and fourth rounds and two in the seventh due to several key player losses, including Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis.
Baltimore secured picks in the fourth and fifth rounds, plus two sixth-round selections after parting ways with players like Jadeveon Clowney and Gus Edwards. Since the program began in 1994, Baltimore has received the most compensatory picks in the league, totaling 60.
The Cowboys earned three fifth-round picks and one sixth-round selection after losing players like Tony Pollard and Tyron Smith.
Other teams, like Minnesota and the New York Giants, also received third-round picks. Minnesota’s was due to losing quarterback Kirk Cousins to Atlanta, while the Giants lost safety Xavier McKinney to Green Bay.
Compensatory picks are calculated using a formula that considers salary, playing time, and postseason achievements, so not every player lost or signed falls under this system.
