35 Compensatory Picks were just handed out by the NFL
A total of 35 compensatory draft selections in the 2025 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 San Francisco 49ers, the Los Angeles Rams and 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. 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 (general manager) 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 2025 compensatory draft picks have been awarded for the 2025 NFL Draft, which will be held on April 24-April 26 in Green Bay:
| Round | Round Choice/ Overall Selection | Team |
| 3 | 33-97 | Minnesota |
| 3 | 34-98 | Miami |
| 3 | 35-99 | New York Giants |
| 3 | 36-100* | San Francisco |
| 3 | 37-101* | Los Angeles Rams |
| 3 | 38-102* | Detroit |
| 4 | 33-135 | Miami |
| 4 | 34-136 | Baltimore |
| 4 | 35-137 | Seattle |
| 4 | 36-138 | San Francisco |
| 5 | 33-169 | Buffalo |
| 5 | 34-170 | Dallas |
| 5 | 35-171 | Dallas |
| 5 | 36-172 | Seattle |
| 5 | 37-173 | Buffalo |
| 5 | 38-174 | Dallas |
| 5 | 39-175 | Seattle |
| 5 | 40-176 | Baltimore |
| 6 | 33-209 | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 6 | 34-210 | Baltimore |
| 6 | 35-211 | Dallas |
| 6 | 36-212 | Baltimore |
| 6 | 37-213 | Las Vegas |
| 6 | 38-214 | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 6 | 39-215 | Las Vegas |
| 6 | 40-216 | Cleveland |
| 7 | 33-249 | San Francisco |
| 7 | 34-250 | Green Bay |
| 7 | 35-251 | Kansas City |
| 7 | 36-252 | San Francisco |
| 7 | 37-253 | Miami |
| 7 | 38-254 | Cleveland |
| 7 | 39-255 | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 7 | 40-256 | Miami |
| 7 | 41-257 | Kansas City |
| *Special Compensatory Selection | ||
NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com