With the 2025 NFL year set to begin at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, the league took care of some housekeeping to close out the 2024 league year. Late on Tuesday, the NFL announced the recipients of its compensatory draft picks for 2025.
These picks are awarded to teams based on the players that teams lost in free agency from the prior year. The picks are based on a formula which takes into account playing time, salary and postseason honors with the player’s new team. An example is Sam Darnold’s breakout 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings resulting in his prior team, the San Francisco 49ers, gaining an additional fourth-round pick. There are 32 picks in total, and this year’s were awarded to 15 teams. The picks are positioned between Round 3 and Round 7.
