As expected, the Dallas Cowboys have been awarded an additional pick in the 2020 amateur draft.
Thanks to the compensatory pick formula, put in place by the league to compensate teams for losing more free agents than they sign in a given year, the Dallas Cowboys will now once again have seven picks out of the 256 passed out throughout the league. Their additional pick comes courtesy of losing WR Cole Beasley in free agency last year to the Buffalo Bills.
The Cowboys’ pick will be 5-34, No. 179 overall and the 20th of 32 comp picks awarded.
Every year, Cowboys Wire tracks the comings and goings in free agency in a ledger, that balances out which players qualify (based on what kind of free agent, how much they signed for and who they may have been cancelled out by.
Here’s where the Cowboys pick throughout the draft, pending any trades.
1st Round (17) – 17th
2nd Round (19) – 51st
3rd Round (18) – 82nd
4th Round (17) – 122nd
5th Round (19) – 156th
5th Round Comp (2)- 179th
* 6th Round (18) – 198th – Traded to Miami Dolphins for Robert Quinn
7th Round (17) – 232nd
The Cowboys were one of 15 teams awarded picks, with New England leading the league with four additional selections. Their four moves them into a tie for second place, all-time, with the Cowboys at 43. Baltimore has the most comp picks in league history, with 52. They have two this year.
The comp pick is an interesting formula that some teams navigate much better than others. There is a cutoff date for signing players who qualify for the formula. Also, players released by other teams don’t count towards the formula, only those who reach free agency due to the expiration of a contract.
The new CBA, to be voted on by players by midnight Saturday, includes a change in the rule that raises the floor of what dollar amount a player must sign for to qualify, among other adjustments.
This year’s free agency will likely result in the Cowboys likely reaping the maximum four comp picks in the 2021 draft. Dallas has 25 unrestricted free agents. Depending on who walks and how many outside free agents they bring in, players such as DT Maliek Collins, WR Randall Cobb, DE Robert Quinn and CB Byron Jones are expected to be worth the most in the formula.
For a complete look at our valuations of this year’s free agents, check out our gallery that discusses the salary levels in play.
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