The entire compensatory pick formula can be tricky. But the first part is simple math. Take the number of free-agent losses and subtract the number of additions. Whatever is left is how many compensatory picks your team is eligible to have.
Keep in mind, not all free-agent additions count in the formula. If the play was cut by their former team, they don’t count. It is only players who left when their contract was up.
Based on that formula, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein put out projections for how many compensatory picks each team would have. And for the first time in at least a couple of years, the Raiders figure to get one.
Projected compensatory picks: Round 6.
Key free-agent losses: Nelson Agholor (Patriots), Devontae Booker (Giants), Maliek Collins (Texans), Takkarist McKinley (Browns).
Key free-agent additions: Kenyan Drake, Yannick Ngakoue, Solomon Thomas.
Comp-pick analysis: A slick move by the Raiders’ front office and a little bit of luck should net the team a compensatory selection. In November, the Falcons cut former first-rounder McKinley, who was then claimed and cut by both the Bengals and 49ers after failing his physicals. The Raiders claimed him and sent him straight to injured reserve, where he stayed for the season until being signed by the Browns in free agency. With four departures and three signings, the shrewd McKinley move should become a sixth-round pick.
It’s interesting that the addition and stashing of McKinley actually yielded something back for the Raiders. Even if they won’t see the benefit until 2022 and that yield is basically a seventh-round pick. Calling the move ‘shrewd’ seems a bit excessive. It simply makes it not a complete waste.
The shrewd moves were signing a lot of players who were cut such as WR John Brown, DT Quinton Jefferson, C Nick Martin, and DT Darius Philon. Cornerback Casey Hayward was also cut this offseason, but he wouldn’t have counted regardless because he was added after the deadline in which additions counted in the formula.
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