NFL awards compensatory picks for 2021 draft
Tim Heitman / USA TODAY Sports
The NFL handed out 36 compensatory picks for the 2021 NFL Draft on Wednesday.
Compensatory picks are awarded based on the caliber of free agents a team lost compared to the caliber of free agents it gained the previous year. The league's formula takes salaries, playing time, and postseason honors into account.
The Dallas Cowboys received an NFL-high four compensatory picks, while the New England Patriots earned the highest selection at No. 96 overall.
Here is a complete breakdown of this year's compensatory picks:
(The NFL inadvertently gave the San Francisco 49ers two compensatory picks in Round 3 and has since corrected the mistake.)
Round 3
| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 96 | Patriots |
| 97 | Chargers |
| 98 | Saints |
| 99 | Cowboys |
| 100 | Titans |
| 101 | Rams |
| 102 | 49ers |
| 103 | Rams |
| 104 | Ravens |
| 105 | Saints |
Round 4
| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 138 | Cowboys |
| 139 | Patriots |
| 140 | Steelers |
| 141 | Rams |
| 142 | Packers |
| 143 | Vikings |
| 144 | Chiefs |
Round 5
| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 177 | Packers |
| 178 | Cowboys |
| 179 | Falcons |
| 180 | 49ers |
| 181 | Chiefs |
| 182 | Falcons |
| 183 | Ravens |
Round 6
| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 216 | Buccaneers |
| 217 | Saints |
| 218 | Falcons |
| 219 | Packers |
| 220 | Bears |
| 221 | Panthers |
| 222 | Vikings |
| 223 | Eagles |
| 224 | Eagles |
| 225 | Panthers |
| 226 | Cowboys |
| 227 | Bears |