The NFL has granted compensatory elections to teams in the 2021 draft.
These options are awarded to teams that suffered the most important free agent losses during the low season of 2020. This year, the NFL has awarded 36 comp picks. The comp pick formula assigns those who have suffered the largest net losses, so teams that have signed multiple free agents are less likely to receive selections. The Cowboys top the list (which is shared below) with four top picks in the league.
There was a change in this year’s formula as the NFL awarded four selections to teams that saw one of their minority members become head coach or GM. The 49ers, Rams, Ravens and Saints got the third-round compass selection this year. They will receive additional thirds in 2022. The Rams added a third after losing the director of scout Brad Holmes (GM Lions); the Ravens lost quarterbacks coach David Culley (Texans HC); the Saints lost the GM assistant Terry Fontenot (Falcons GM). By losing the player’s staff vice president Martin Mayhew (Washington GM) and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh (Jets HC), the 49ers will also have an additional third-round selection in 2023.
Here is the complete breakdown, by round and by teams:
Per round:
Round 3: Patriots (No. 96 overall), Chargers (97), Saints (98), Cowboys (99), Titans (100), Rams (101), 49ers (102) *, Rams (103) *, Ravens (104) *, Sants (105) *
Round 4: Cowboys (No. 139 overall), Patriots (140), Steelers (141), Rams (142), Packers (143), Vikings (144), Chiefs (145)
Round 5: Packers (No. 178 in general), cowboys (179), hawks (180), 49ers (181), heads (182), hawks (183), crows (184)
Round 6: Buccaneers (No. 217 overall), Saints (218), Falcons (219), Packers (220), Bears (221), Panthers (222), Vikings (223), Eagles (224), Eagles (225), Panthers (226), Cowboys (227), Bears (228)
By teams:
- Dallas Cowboys (4)
- Atlanta Falcons (3)
- Green Bay Packers (3)
- Los Angeles Rams (3)
- New Orleans Saints (3)
- Baltimore Ravens (2)
- Carolina Panthers (2)
- Chicago Bears (2)
- Kansas City Chiefs (2)
- Minnesota Vikings (2)
- New England Patriots (2)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2)
- San Francisco 49ers (2)
- Los Angeles Chargers (1)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (1)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1)
- Tennessee Titans (1)
* = special compensatory selection