NFL Announces 33 Compensatory Draft Choices to 15 Clubs

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NEW YORK – A total of 33 compensatory draft selections in the 2026 NFL Draft have been awarded to 15 teams, the NFL announced today.  

Under the rules for compensatory draft selections, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents (“CFA”) than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks.

The compensatory picks will be positioned within the third through seventh rounds based on the value of the compensatory free agents lost.

Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. The formula was developed by the NFL Management Council. Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula. Clubs that suffer a net loss of CFAs during the prior free agent signing period are eligible to receive a corresponding number of compensatory selections. In addition, a club that lost the same number of CFAs that it gained (no net loss), may be eligible to receive a selection at the end of round seven based on the value of the CFAs lost versus the value of the CFAs gained. No club may receive more than four compensatory picks in any one year. If a club qualifies for more than four compensatory picks after offsetting each CFA lost by each CFA gained of an equal or higher value, the four highest remaining selections will be awarded to the club.  

In addition to the 32 compensatory selections awarded under the net loss formula, a special compensatory selection was awarded to the Detroit Lions under a 2020 amendment to the League’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, which was agreed upon by the NFL and the NFLPA to promote equal employment opportunities and an inclusive workforce within NFL clubs. That selection was subsequently traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars. This initiative provides that the prior employer-club of a minority employee who has been hired by another club as its head coach or primary football executive will receive compensation in the form of a special compensatory draft selection in the third round of each of the next two drafts, or in each of the next three drafts if two minority employees from the employer-club are hired for these positions by another club or clubs. Special compensatory selections are awarded in draft selection order after all other compensatory selections in round three and are denoted with an asterisk in the following table.  

The following 2026 compensatory draft picks have been awarded for the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held on April 23-April 25 in Pittsburgh:

RoundRound Choice/ Overall SelectionClub
333-97Minnesota
334-98Philadelphia
335-99Pittsburgh
336-100*Jacksonville from Detroit
433-133San Francisco
434-134Las Vegas
435-135Pittsburgh
436-136New Orleans
437-137Philadelphia
438-138San Francisco
439-139San Francisco
440-140New York Jets
 
533-173Baltimore
534-174Baltimore
535-175Las Vegas
536-176Kansas City
537-177Dallas
538-178Philadelphia
539-179New York Jets
540-180Dallas
540-181Detroit
 
633-214Pittsburgh
634-215Philadelphia
635-216Pittsburgh
 
733-249Indianapolis
734-250Baltimore
735-251Los Angeles Rams
736-252Los Angeles Rams
737-253Baltimore
738-254Indianapolis
739-255Green Bay
740-256Denver
741-257Denver

*Special Compensatory Selection

The compensatory free agents lost and gained in 2025 by the clubs that will receive compensatory picks in the 2026 Draft:

TeamPlayer
BALTIMORELost:Malik Harrison; Josh Jones; Patrick Mekari; Brandon Stephens; Tre’Davios White
Gained:DeAndre Hopkins
 
DALLASLost:Brandin Cooks; Rico Dowdle; Chuma Edoga; Chauncey Golston; Demarcus Lawrence; Jourdan Lewis
Gained:Dante Fowler; Robert Jones; Solomon Thomas; Javonte Williams
 
DENVERLost:Cody Barton; Riley Dixon; Tremon Smith; Javonte William; Zach Wilson
Gained:Dre Greenlaw; Talanoa Hufanga
 
DETROITLost:Carlton Davis; Ifeatu Melifonwu; Kevin Zeitler
Gained:Roy Lopez; D.J. Reed
GREEN BAYLost:Josh Myers; Tedarrell Slaton; Eric Stkes; Eric Wilson
Gained:Aaron Banks; Nate Hobbs
 
INDIANAPOLISLost:Joe Flacco; Will Fries; Ryan Kelly; Dayo Oeyingbo; E.J. Speed
Gained:Camryn Bynum; Daniel Jones; Charvarius Ward
 
KANSAS CITYLost:DeAndre Hopkins; Justin Reid; Tershawn Wharton
Gained:Kristian Fulton; Jaylon Moore
 
L.A. RAMSLost:Bobby Brown; Michael Hoecht; Demarcus Robnson; Christian Rozeboom
Gained:Poona Ford; Coleman Shelton
 
LAS VEGASLost:K’Lavon Chaisson; Divine Deablo; Nate Hobbs; Tre’von Moehrig; Robert Spillane
Gained:Chinn Jeremy; Roberts Elandon; Stokes Eric
 
MINNESOTALost:Camryn Bynum; Sam Darnold; Daniel Jones; Patrick Jones; Cam Robinson
Gained:Will Fries; Ryan Kelly; Isaiah Rodgers; Eric Wilson
 
NEW ORLEANSLost:Paulson Adebo; Will Harris; Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Gained:Brandin Cooks; Justin Reid
 
N.Y. JETSLost:Ashtyn Davis; Brandin Echols; Javon Kinlaw; Morgan Moses; Haason Reddick; D.J. Reed; Solomon Thomas
Gained:Andre Cisco; Justin Fields; Josh Myers; Brandon Stephens
 
PHILADELPHIALost:Mekhi Becton; Isaiah Rodgers; Josh Sweat; Milton Williams
Gained: 
 
PITTSBURGHLost:James Daniels; Justin Fields; Najee Harris; Donte Jackson; Dan Moore; Elandon Roberts; Russell Wilson
Gained:Brandin Echols; Malik Harrison; Mason Rudolph
 
SAN FRANCISCOLost:Aaron Banks; Joshua Dobbs; Dre Greenlaw; Talanoa Hufanga; Jaylon Moore; Charvarius Ward
Gained:Luke Farrell; Mac Jones; Demarcus Robinson

2026 NFL COMPENSATORY DRAFT PICKS*

TeamPicks
Baltimore4
Philadelphia4
Pittsburgh4
San Francisco3
Dallas2
Denver2
Indianapolis2
Las Vegas2
Los Angeles Rams2
New York Jets2
Detroit1
Green Bay1
Kansas City1
Minnesota1
New Orleans1

*Does not include special compensatory selections

SUMMARY OF COMPENSATORY DRAFT PICKS, 1994-2025*

TeamPicks
Baltimore64
Dallas60
Green Bay54
Los Angeles Rams53
San Francisco49
New England48
Philadelphia45
Pittsburgh39
Cincinnati37
Seattle35
Kansas City34
Tennessee33
Arizona32
Buffalo31
New York Giants31
Minnesota30
Los Angeles Chargers29
Indianapolis27
Las Vegas27
Denver26
Miami26
Atlanta25
Detroit25
Tampa Bay25
Chicago21
Jacksonville21
Carolina20
Houston19
New York Jets19
Washington19
New Orleans18
Cleveland15
TOTAL1,037

*Does not include special compensatory selections