Are compensatory picks a big deal in the NFL draft?
Well, in last year’s 2024 NFL Draft, the NFL had determined they would award 34 compensatory selections to be added to the draft. The simple math is 32 teams multiplied by seven rounds equals 224 draft selections. One selection was actually removed via penalty of league rules, so adding the additional 34 selections resulted in 257 total selections.
The 34 additional compensatory selections mean an entire round (32 teams/picks), plus two more picks were added to last year’s draft.
What is an NFL compensatory draft choice for those who don’t understand the process?
The NFL determines to include additional picks by rewarding a team when they lost some of the higher-priced players (better players) the previous season through unrestricted free agency.
In addition, the NFL has also awarded compensatory selections when teams have assistant coaches or personnel executives who are minorities, then hired as head coaches or general managers of other teams.
Thus, when a team loses better players who are unrestricted free agents than they signed, the NFL will award that team a draft pick(s) after rounds three through seven are completed.
Taking the 2025 free agent class for example, if the Bengals WR Tee Higgins signs the largest free agent contract for this 2025 class, the Bengals will be awarded a 2026 compensatory selection following the third round.
The Commanders are not losing an unrestricted free agent whose market value demanded a high salary in 2024, and Washington will not receive a compensatory selection this year.
Speaking of the Commanders draft selections, keep in mind that once the NFL officially awards the compensatory selections, the selections in rounds four through seven will be adjusted lower.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: 2025 DRAFT SELECTIONS
- Round 1: (29)
- Round 2: (61)
- Round 3: (79) via Miami
- Round 4: No selection
- Round 5: (148) via New Orleans
- Round 6: No selection
- Round 7: (207)
- Round 7: (238) via Denver
- Round 7: (247)