Tag: Compensatory Draft Picks

Chargers projected to receive 3 compensatory picks in 2025

The Los Angeles Chargers could have seven Day 3 selections next year.

With the Jim Harbaugh era underway, the Chargers retooled their roster over the past couple of months, letting go of former players. However, there is a chance that they could be compensated for their losses.

According to Over The Cap, Los Angeles is projected to receive three compensatory picks for the departure of Kenneth Murray (Titans), Austin Ekeler (Commanders) and Gerald Everett (Bears).

The league gives out 32 compensatory picks from the third through seventh rounds of the draft each year based on a selected pool of free agents lost. Among that, the largest 32 contracts signed by free agents based on average per-year value will net a team compensation.

A formula considers salary, playing time and postseason accolades to value players and determine whether teams should be compensated for those players leaving in free agency. However, the compensation for players is also determined by a formula dictated by individual teams’ gains and losses of unrestricted free agents each year.

The picks won’t be determined until after the 2024 season, but here’s to hoping that L.A. is able to end up with a total of ten picks.

Raiders not expected to receive compensatory draft picks in 2024

No comp picks for Raiders next year

For the first time in a while the Raiders had compensatory picks in this year’s draft. They had two of them, in fact — at the end of rounds five and six. But in this year’s free agency, they again are looking at a net gain in free agency, which means no compensatory picks in the 2024 draft are expected.

Here are the Raiders’ free agent losses vs gains as detailed by Overthecap.com:

Lost – 3

Jarrett Stidham
Denzel Perryman
Andrew Billings

Gains — 6

Jimmy Garoppolo
Jakobi Meyers
Marcus Epps
Robert Spillane
Brandon Facyson
Austin Hooper

The Raiders also lost Clelin Ferrell and Mack Hollins but they don’t count in the formula, and even if they did, the Raiders would still have more outgoing than incoming, so it wouldn’t really matter.

There are several factors that play into what kind of compensation a team gets from lost free agents. But the first one is simple math. If they signed more free agents than they lost, they don’t get any picks for that.

The Eagles losing so many free agents could result in a historic number of compensatory picks

The Eagles are in line for 16 2024 NFL Draft picks. Any maybe even more.

The good news is the Philadelphia Eagles have retained key members of their 2022 NFC Champion roster like James Bradberry, Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox. The bad news is there are gonna be a whole bunch of empty lockers between them this offseason.

The Eagles have been hit harder than anyone in free agency, losing vital starters left and right. This weekend saw cogs like Isaac Seumalo and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson leave for modest deals with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions, respectively. That leaves Philadelphia with some significant holes to be filled on both sides of the ball.

Fortunately, help is on the way — in 2024 especially.

The volume of high-value free agents departing Philly puts the team in place for a historic haul of compensatory draft picks. Those bonus selections are determined my a proprietary — and secret — formula that rewards teams for losing veterans based on how rich the contract they sign elsewhere is. The Eagles have nine different players who’ve signed for at least $3.5 million in annual salary.

That formula offsets these picks against the high-profile free agents a team has signed from other teams. The Eagles don’t have any new arrivals as highly paid as even Gardner Minshew yet.

Nine compensatory picks would set an NFL record, topping the seven the San Francisco 49ers received this offseason. It would give the Eagles 16 projected draft picks in 2024 (five in the first three rounds) — and give general manager Howie Roseman some additional ammunition for the wheeling and dealing that’s transformed his team from an NFC also-ran to a Super Bowl contender.

Packers projected to receive 3 compensatory picks in 2023 NFL draft

Losing Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chandon Sullivan and Oren Burks is projected to net the Packers three compensatory picks on Day 3 of the 2023 NFL draft.

Losing receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, cornerback Chandon Sullivan and linebacker Oren Burks in free agency last March is expected to net the Green Bay Packers three compensatory picks in the 2023 NFL draft.

The final projection from Nick Korte of Over the Cap has the Packers getting a fifth-round pick for losing Valdes-Scantling (Kansas City Chiefs) and a pair of seventh-round picks for losing Sullivan (Minnesota Vikings) and Burks (San Francisco 49ers).

The Packers likely would have received a better pick for losing Lucas Patrick to the Chicago Bears but signing defensive lineman Jarran Reed canceled out the move.

Each year, teams are assigned compensatory picks for losing unrestricted free agents the previous offseason, but teams can cancel out losses by signing free agents. More on the compensatory pick formula can be found here.

Adding three compensatory picks would give the Packers 11 total selections entering the 2023 draft.

If Korte’s projections are correct, the Packers would have one first-round pick, one second-round pick, one third-round pick, one fourth-round pick, two fifth-round picks and five seventh-round picks. The Packers gained extra seventh-round picks in recent trades involving Cole Van Lanen and Corey Bojorquez.

Korte notes that picks for Sullivan and Burks are near the cutoff line and could change based on the NFL’s calculation.

Last year, the Packers were awarded two compensatory picks in the 2022 draft after losing center Corey Linsley (fourth round) and running back Jamaal Williams (seventh round). General manager Brian Gutekunst took offensive lineman Zach Tom at No. 140 in the fourth round and wide receiver Samori Toure at No. 258.

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NFL announces 2021 compensatory draft picks, Saints finally cash in

The New Orleans Saints received several 2021 NFL draft compensatory draft picks for previously losing Teddy Bridgewater and Terry Fontenot.

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Finally, the New Orleans Saints have caught their white whale. The NFL announced its list of 2021 compensatory draft picks on Wednesday, including the first comp picks the Saints will have received in the Sean Payton era. New Orleans’ typically-aggressive approach to free agency has kept them from elbowing into the comp pick formula since Payton was hired as head coach, but a more tempered strategy in 2020 has paid off.

Teddy Bridgewater left the Saints last summer for a big contract with the Carolina Panthers, which qualified for a third-round pick in this year’s draft (98 overall). The Saints also benefited from the league’s new minority hiring incentives policy, which rewards them for developing Terry Fontenot into the eventual Atlanta Falcons general manager by bring a pair of third rounders to New Orleans in 2021 (105 overall) and 2022 (to be determined). Additionally, the Saints received another comp pick for losing A.J. Klein to the Buffalo Bills — a sixth rounder (217 overall).

They need the help. The Saints were without a third round pick after trading it last year to help acquire Zack Baun. Their fifth rounder is expected to convey in the trade for Kwon Alexander, while their sixth round pick was traded to land Tommy Stevens. And the NFL forced New Orleans to forfeit its seventh rounder due to COVID-19 protocol violations. Getting these additional at-bat opportunities is key for bringing in more young talent on affordable rookie contracts.

Here’s the current slate of Saints draft picks in 2021:

  • Round 1, Pick 28
  • Round 2, Pick 60
  • Round 3, Pick 98 (compensatory)
  • Round 3, Pick 105 (compensatory)
  • Round 4, Pick 135
  • Round 6, Pick 217 (compensatory)

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Saints to acquire compensatory draft picks once Falcons hire Terry Fontenot

The New Orleans Saints will receive a pair of compensatory draft picks after losing personnel VP Terry Fontenot to the Atlanta Falcons.

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It’s going to be tough for the New Orleans Saints front office to absorb the loss of personnel executive Terry Fontenot, but his rise to become the next Atlanta Falcons general manager does bring a slight silver lining: several compensatory draft picks.

Because the NFL implemented a new incentive to its minority candidates hiring policy, teams that lose those candidates to head coach or general manager positions will received two third-round draft picks in the next two years. It’s a way of encouraging teams to develop more prospects for other franchises to consider. Fontenot, who is Black, qualifies the Saints for that bonus.

For New Orleans, that means extra third rounders in both 2021 and 2022. The Saints are also expected to receive a 2021 third-round comp pick after Teddy Bridgewater signed with the Carolina Panthers last offseason. After trading their own initial pick in that round (which would have slotted in around No. 84), they’ll instead be making selections at the end of it, near pick No. 100. The exact draft order will be announced later this offseason.

Sure, they’d rather have Fontenot helping them identify talented free agents and additions to the roster. But they’ve made good use of their selections in the third round before, and these resources will be needed considering how close the team’s bookkeeping is running against the salary cap.

Recent Saints draft picks in the third round include Tre’Quan Smith (who caught two touchdown passes in the Saints’ playoffs loss), Alvin Kamara, Alex Anzalone, and Trey Hendrickson, as well as rookies Zack Baun and Adam Trautman. The Saints also have a history of trading these picks to move up the board, so keep that in mind as we move closer to the 2021 NFL draft.

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Report: NFL might take action against teams abusing comp pick system

The New Orleans Saints are finally projected to earn a few compensatory picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, but the league office might reject them

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After spending most of the last few decades ignoring the very idea of earning compensatory draft picks, the New Orleans Saints maneuvered themselves to receive a few extra selections in the 2021 NFL Draft. Their trades in this year’s draft gave up future selections in the same rounds they’re expected to receive additional picks, adding an element of strategy to those moves.

One of those picks is projected to be a third-rounder, which the Saints would earn for losing Teddy Bridgewater in free agency. While the team is negotiating a deal with veteran passer Jameis Winston, their savvy move to wait until after Monday’s cutoff date for qualifying picks would protect that pick.

Unless the NFL steps in. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein reported Tuesday that conversations around the league suggest the NFL might step in to penalize teams believed to have “intentionally gamed the system” by following the rules and not signing a free agent until after the established deadline. That doesn’t pass the smell test.

It would be difficult for the league office to prove any such collusion happened, requiring statements from both the team and the player’s agents that both sides agreed to wait until after the cutoff to finalize a deal. And even if that were the case, these sort of “handshake agreements” have been happening for years.

Why on earth would the NFL punish one of its franchises for being mindful of a deadline it maintains? What’s the point in scheduling that cutoff date if they plan on penalizing a team for taking action to work around it? Why have it in the first place?

As Zierlein himself noted in his report, he doesn’t expect anything to come of this noise. So it’s probably just a big nothingburger. But the fact that any discussions are happening at all sure smells fishy.

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2020 NFL mock draft: 4-round projections after free agency

As NFL Free Agency winds down, Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling updates his four-round projections for the 2020 NFL draft

We’re nearly two weeks into the NFL new year, which means free agency is starting to slow down, and preparations for the 2020 NFL draft are beginning to ramp up.

Many teams have already used free agency to fill their biggest needs with veteran help, while others may have struck out on the open market, and will now head into the draft desperate for rookies who can make an immediate impact.

As the league continues to grapple with the changes forced by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, here’s an updated look at how the first four rounds of this year’s draft could shake out, including compensatory picks.

Positional Rankings | Top 200 Big Board

1. Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

Despite rumors to the contrary, this has been set in stone for quite a while. Burrow won’t make trouble about playing in Cincy, and the Bengals finally get the franchise quarterback they so desperately need.

2. Washington Redskins

Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

This is another no-brainer pick. Unless Washington gets a huge offer from a QB-needy team trying to jump ahead of everyone else on the board, this has to be the selection. Young is the best overall prospect in this year’s class, which makes him a steal anywhere else but No. 1 overall.

3. Detroit Lions

Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

I’m betting the Lions would love to move down from this spot, and they’re sure to have plenty of willing trade partners with some talented QB prospects on the board. If not, though, expect them to replace the recently traded Darius Slay with Okuda, this year’s best corner prospect by far.

4. New York Giants

Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa

Any of this year’s top four offensive tackle prospects could make a strong case to go here, which is good news for the Giants, who need a franchise player at the position. Wirfs is a rare athlete for his size, and has as much upside as any other tackle in the class. He’s ready to protect Daniel Jones from Day 1.

5. Miami Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

It’s highly likely that the Dolphins will need to move up to get Tagovailoa on draft day, but in this scenario, they’re able to land him without moving up. Yes, there will be durability concerns, but Tagovailoa’s recovery appears to be ahead of schedule. At full strength, he would easily be in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick.

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Bengals agree to terms with Saints free agent safety Vonn Bell

The Cincinnati Bengals agreed to terms on a deal with New Orleans Saints free agent Vonn Bell, a highly-rated safety out of Ohio State.

The New Orleans Saints lost another starter to free agency, with the Cincinnati Bengals agreeing to terms with strong safety Vonn Bell on a three-year contract. Bell, who played for the Ohio State Buckeyes in college, returns to Ohio just as he’s hitting his prime. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo first reported the deal, which was confirmed by Nola.com’s Amie Just.

It hurts to see the Saints miss out on a young, talented player that they’ve invested years in developing, but this move was broadcast early last week when they reunited with Philadelphia Eagles free agent Malcolm Jenkins (who was also drafted by the Saints out of Ohio State, ironically). The re-signing of backup safety D.J. Swearinger seemed to shut any door on a possible do-over with Bell.

Fortunately for him, Cincinnati should be a good fit. Bell’s style of play compliments Bengals free safety Jessie Bates, another rising star in the NFL, allowing Bates to rove around the second and third levels of the defense while Bell makes plays in the box and around the line of scrimmage. It’s not for nothing that Bell led the NFL’s defenders in fumble recoveries last season.

Bell’s departure should qualify the Saints for another compensatory draft pick in 2021, though his exact contract terms are unknown just yet. The Saints are currently slotted in for an extra third-round selection (related to Teddy Bridgewater’s contract with the Carolina Panthers) and a sixth-round pick (due to Eli Apple’s deal with the Las Vegas Raiders). It’s a strange time in New Orleans, a team that rarely stacks up draft assets, but the price often paid for building such a strong roster is that not everyone can return.

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2020 NFL draft: Panthers get zero compensatory picks this year

The compensatory picks for the 2020 draft were just released by the NFL.

The Panthers’ path back to the NFL playoffs isn’t getting any easier.

The compensatory picks for the 2020 draft were just released by the NFL. As expected, Carolina won’t be getting any this year.

In addition to limited cap space and a number of pending free agents, the immediate outlook for the Panthers doesn’t look good. This is why Matt Rhule was brought in, though. If this rebuild is going to happen, results won’t be apparent overnight, or perhaps even in season one.

The lack of comp picks gives the team more reason to trade down for more capital this year.

Looking ahead, next year could potentially be much more fruitful in this department. Players like Mario Addison, Bruce Irvin, James Bradberry, Tre Boston, Gerald McCoy and Greg Van Roten would all add to the comp pick formula if they are allowed to leave in free agency, which starts on March 18.

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