2025 NFL Draft: Compensatory pick projections for every team

It has become obvious over the last few years that in many cases, teams are beginning to factor compensatory picks in the next season's draft into the roster-building process. Teams will make mid-year additions or sign players to one-year deals, understanding that it could turn into a future compensatory pick. Pay them now and receive a bonus pick later.

So, how do compensatory picks work?

The number of compensatory picks allotted each year is limited to the number of teams in the league (32), per the collective bargaining agreement. However, compensatory picks are not divided up equally among the teams, and no team can receive more than four compensatory picks in a single year. To qualify for compensatory picks, teams must end up with more qualifying free agents lost than gained in a particular year.

Teams are awarded compensatory draft picks between Rounds 3 and 7 of the draft based upon a league formula that takes into account a player's average salary per year (APY), snap count and postseason awards. While there is an expected level of compensation for a player based on the amount he has signed for, his playing time (or lack thereof) in the upcoming season could alter the expectation.

In November of 2020, the NFL announced it would award two third-round selections (one each in consecutive years) to any team that had a minority coach or executive hired as head coach or general manager by another NFL club (teams that lost employees to a head coach and general manager position would receive three). Those selections come at the back end of the compensatory picks awarded in the third round. In 2025, San Francisco will receive the last of three picks for having DeMeco Ryans (Texans head coach) and Ran Carthon (Titans GM) hired