Sometimes, it can pay not to pay.
In addition to the seven draft picks each NFL team starts with, there will be 35 additional, compensatory picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Fourteen teams have been awarded at least one compensatory pick for losing more quality free agents than they signed last offseason. Two others earned an additional pick for losing a minority coach to another team’s head coach opening.
The number of compensatory picks this year brings the total count of overall selections to 257 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Here’s everything to know about how teams earn compensatory picks and which teams own them in 2025.
What is a compensatory pick?
Every year, the NFL awards at least 32 additional, “compensatory” picks to various teams in addition to the seven picks that every team starts with. Each compensatory pick is slotted at the ends of Rounds 3-7.
To be awarded one or more compensatory picks, teams must have “lost more or better compensatory free agents than they signed in the previous year,” according to an NFL.com article. “The formula that determines compensatory free agents is based on salary, playing time and postseason honors.”
In addition, if a minority coach or front office executive departs a team to take a head coach job or “primary football executive position” with another franchise, the original squad earns a special compensatory pick.
This year, there are 35 total compensatory picks distributed among 16 teams. Three picks are special compensatory picks awarded to the 49ers, Rams and Lions for losing minority coaches/executives to other teams.
2025 NFL Draft compensatory picks by team
Here’s how many compensatory picks each team has been awarded for the 2025 NFL Draft:
- Baltimore Ravens: 4
- Dallas Cowboys: 4
- San Francisco 49ers: 4
- Los Angeles Chargers: 3
- Miami Dolphins: 3
- Seattle Seahawks: 3
- Buffalo Bills: 2
- Cleveland Browns: 2
- Kansas City Chiefs: 2
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2
- Detroit Lions: 1
- Green Bay Packers: 1
- Los Angeles Rams: 1
- Minnesota Vikings: 1
- New Orleans Saints: 1
- New York Giants: 1
2025 NFL Draft compensatory picks
Round 3
- No. 97 overall: Minnesota Vikings
- No. 98 overall: Miami Dolphins
- No. 99 overall: New York Giants
- No. 100 overall: San Francisco 49ers
- No. 101 overall: Los Angeles Rams
- No. 102 overall: Detroit Lions
Round 4
- No. 135 overall: Miami Dolphins
- No. 136 overall: Baltimore Ravens
- No. 137 overall: Seattle Seahawks
- No. 138 overall: San Francisco 49ers
Round 5
- No. 169 overall: Buffalo Bills
- No. 170 overall: Dallas Cowboys
- No. 171 overall: Dallas Cowboys
- No. 172 overall: Seattle Seahawks
- No. 173 overall: Buffalo Bills
- No. 174 overall: Dallas Cowboys
- No. 175 overall: Seattle Seahawks
- No. 176 overall: Baltimore Ravens
Round 6
- No. 209 overall: Los Angeles Chargers
- No. 210 overall: Baltimore Ravens
- No. 211 overall: Dallas Cowboys
- No. 212 overall: Baltimore Ravens
- No. 213 overall: Las Vegas Raiders
- No. 214 overall: Los Angeles Chargers
- No. 215 overall: Las Vegas Raiders
- No. 216 overall: Cleveland Browns
Round 7
- No. 249 overall: San Francisco 49ers
- No. 250 overall: Green Bay Packers
- No. 251 overall: Kansas City Chiefs
- No. 252 overall: San Francisco 49ers
- No. 253 overall: Miami Dolphins
- No. 254 overall: New Orleans Saints
- No. 255 overall: Cleveland Browns
- No. 256 overall: Los Angeles Chargers
- No. 257 overall: Kansas City Chiefs
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What are compensatory picks in the NFL draft?
Sometimes, it can pay not to pay.
In addition to the seven draft picks each NFL team starts with, there will be 35 additional, compensatory picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Fourteen teams have been awarded at least one compensatory pick for losing more quality free agents than they signed last offseason. Two others earned an additional pick for losing a minority coach to another team’s head coach opening.
The number of compensatory picks this year brings the total count of overall selections to 257 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Here’s everything to know about how teams earn compensatory picks and which teams own them in 2025.
What is a compensatory pick?
Every year, the NFL awards at least 32 additional, “compensatory” picks to various teams in addition to the seven picks that every team starts with. Each compensatory pick is slotted at the ends of Rounds 3-7.
To be awarded one or more compensatory picks, teams must have “lost more or better compensatory free agents than they signed in the previous year,” according to an NFL.com article. “The formula that determines compensatory free agents is based on salary, playing time and postseason honors.”
In addition, if a minority coach or front office executive departs a team to take a head coach job or “primary football executive position” with another franchise, the original squad earns a special compensatory pick.
This year, there are 35 total compensatory picks distributed among 16 teams. Three picks are special compensatory picks awarded to the 49ers, Rams and Lions for losing minority coaches/executives to other teams.
2025 NFL Draft compensatory picks by team
Here’s how many compensatory picks each team has been awarded for the 2025 NFL Draft:
- Baltimore Ravens: 4
- Dallas Cowboys: 4
- San Francisco 49ers: 4
- Los Angeles Chargers: 3
- Miami Dolphins: 3
- Seattle Seahawks: 3
- Buffalo Bills: 2
- Cleveland Browns: 2
- Kansas City Chiefs: 2
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2
- Detroit Lions: 1
- Green Bay Packers: 1
- Los Angeles Rams: 1
- Minnesota Vikings: 1
- New Orleans Saints: 1
- New York Giants: 1
2025 NFL Draft compensatory picks
Round 3
- No. 97 overall: Minnesota Vikings
- No. 98 overall: Miami Dolphins
- No. 99 overall: New York Giants
- No. 100 overall: San Francisco 49ers
- No. 101 overall: Los Angeles Rams
- No. 102 overall: Detroit Lions
Round 4
- No. 135 overall: Miami Dolphins
- No. 136 overall: Baltimore Ravens
- No. 137 overall: Seattle Seahawks
- No. 138 overall: San Francisco 49ers
Round 5
- No. 169 overall: Buffalo Bills
- No. 170 overall: Dallas Cowboys
- No. 171 overall: Dallas Cowboys
- No. 172 overall: Seattle Seahawks
- No. 173 overall: Buffalo Bills
- No. 174 overall: Dallas Cowboys
- No. 175 overall: Seattle Seahawks
- No. 176 overall: Baltimore Ravens
Round 6
- No. 209 overall: Los Angeles Chargers
- No. 210 overall: Baltimore Ravens
- No. 211 overall: Dallas Cowboys
- No. 212 overall: Baltimore Ravens
- No. 213 overall: Las Vegas Raiders
- No. 214 overall: Los Angeles Chargers
- No. 215 overall: Las Vegas Raiders
- No. 216 overall: Cleveland Browns
Round 7
- No. 249 overall: San Francisco 49ers
- No. 250 overall: Green Bay Packers
- No. 251 overall: Kansas City Chiefs
- No. 252 overall: San Francisco 49ers
- No. 253 overall: Miami Dolphins
- No. 254 overall: New Orleans Saints
- No. 255 overall: Cleveland Browns
- No. 256 overall: Los Angeles Chargers
- No. 257 overall: Kansas City Chiefs
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What are compensatory picks in the NFL draft?
