What are compensatory picks in the NFL draft?
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Compensation isn't always about the money.
It comes in many ways for NFL teams, who rake in revenue, but also love the free draft picks when awarded. And that's what compensatory picks are, free rolls of the dice.
The 2025 NFL Draft features 257 picks, 35 of which will be compensatory.
There are various reasons why teams get the extra selections, ranging from lost free agents to losing coaches or executives.
Here's a rundown on what a compensatory pick is and which teams are getting those picks in 2025.
What are compensatory picks in the NFL draft?
Compensatory picks were initially intended to be given to teams that lost more of better players in free agency. The league has a formula that aims to offset the loss of those free agents, giving them an additional draft pick as compensation.
Players cut from a team are not included in the formula. Only players who have their contracts expire are eligible.
"If a team loses more players that qualify as CFAs than it signs during free agency, that team is eligible to be awarded compensatory picks in the following NFL draft," according to OverTheCap.
Aside from players, there is also a more recent addition to the compensatory pick formula.
In 2020, the collective bargaining agreement was amended to include the awarding of compensatory picks for the hiring of minority coaches and executives. If a team lost a minority coach or executive to another team, they would receive a third-round compensatory pick for two years. If they lost both a coach and executive in one year, the team would then receive the pick for three years.
2025 NFL Draft compensatory picks
Here's a look at the compensatory picks that were awarded in 2025, before trades:
Third round (overall pick)
- Minnesota Vikings (97)
- Miami Dolphins (98)
- Houston Texas (from NYG) (99)
- San Francisco 49ers (100)*
- Atlanta Falcons (from LAR) (101)*
- Detroit Lions (102)*
The 49ers, Rams and Lions were awarded special compensatory picks for having a minority coach or executive hired by another team.
Fourth round
- Miami Dolphins (135)
- Baltimore Ravens (136)
- Seattle Seahawks (137)
- San Francisco 49ers (138)
Fifth round
- Buffalo Bills (169, 170 [from DAL], 173)
- Dallas Cowboys (174)
- New England Patriots (171, from DAL)
- Seattle Seahawks (172, 175)
- Baltimore Ravens (176)
Sixth round
- Los Angeles Chargers (209, 214)
- Baltimore Ravens (210, 212)
- Dallas Cowboys (211)
- Las Vegas Raiders (213, 215)
- Houston Texans (from CLE) (216)
Seventh round
- San Francisco 49ers (249, 252)
- Green Bay Packers (250)
- Kansas City Chiefs (251, 257)
- Miami Dolphins (253)
- New Orleans Saints (254)
- Houston Texans (from CLE) (255)
- Los Angeles Chargers (256)