Every year, the NFL awards compensatory picks ahead of the draft. Compensatory picks, given between rounds three and seven, are based upon an NFL formula that takes into account players who left the team in free agency the previous spring. The player's salary, snap count and postseason awards are among the criteria taken into account when divvying out the compensatory picks. In order to be eligible to receive a compensatory pick, a team must have ended up with more qualifying free agents lost than gained during the previous offseason.
In order for a player to eventually qualify as a compensatory pick, they must be signed by a new team by April 27. The player must also rank highly enough among their peers to be qualified.
Below is each compensatory pick that has been given out ahead of this year's draft. All told, 37 compensatory picks were awarded, with the Cowboys receiving a league-high four picks. The 2021 draft will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 29 and will run through Saturday, May 1.
Arizona Cardinals
Compensatory picks: None
Atlanta Falcons
Compensatory picks: 5th round, 180th overall pick; 5th round, 183rd overall pick; 6th round, 219th overall pick
Buffalo Bills
Compensatory picks: None
Baltimore Ravens
Compensatory picks: 3rd round, 105th overall pick; 5th round, 184th overall pick
Carolina Panthers
Compensatory picks: 6th round, 222nd overall pick; 6th round, 226th overall pick
Cincinnati Bengals
Compensatory picks: None
Cleveland Browns
Compensatory picks: None
Chicago Bears
Compensatory picks: 6th round, 221st overall pick; 6th round 228th overall pick
Dallas Cowboys
Compensatory picks: 3rd round, 99th overall pick; 4th round, 139th overall pick; 5th round, 179th overall pick; 6th round, 227th overall pick
Denver Broncos
Compensatory picks: None
Detroit Lions
Compensatory picks: None
Green Bay Packers
Compensatory picks: 4th round, 143rd overall pick; 5th round, 178th overall pick; 6th round, 220th overall pick
Houston Texans
Compensatory picks: None
Indianapolis Colts
Compensatory picks: None
Kansas City Chiefs
Compensatory picks: 4th round, 145th overall pick; 5th round, 182 overall pick
Los Angeles Chargers
Compensatory picks: 3rd round, 97th overall pick
Los Angeles Rams
Compensatory picks: 3rd round, 101st overall pick; 3rd round, 104th overall pick; 4th round, 142nd overall pick
Jacksonville Jaguars
Compensatory picks: None
Miami Dolphins
Compensatory picks: None
Minnesota Vikings
Compensatory picks: 4th round, 144th overall pick; 6th round, 223rd overall pick
New England Patriots
Compensatory picks: 3rd round, 96th overall pick; 4th round, 140th overall pick
New Orleans Saints
Compensatory picks: third round, 98th overall pick; 3rd round, 106th overall pick; 6th round, 218th overall pick
New York Giants
Compensatory picks: None
New York Jets
Compensatory picks: None
Oakland Raiders
Compensatory picks: None
Philadelphia Eagles
Compensatory picks: None
San Francisco 49ers
Compensatory picks: 3rd round, 102 overall pick; 3rd round, 103rd overall pick; 5th round, 181st overall pick
Seattle Seahawks
Compensatory picks: None
Philadelphia Eagles
Compensatory picks: 6th round, 224th overall pick; 6th round, 225th overall pick
Pittsburgh Steelers
Compensatory picks: 4th round, 141st overall pick
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Compensatory picks: 6th round, 217th overall pick
Tennessee Titans
Compensatory picks: 3rd round, 100th overall pick
Washington Football Team
Compensatory picks: None
