The NFL’s compensatory picks: What it means and which teams received them
The NFL awarded 35 compensatory draft selections to 15 different teams for the 2025 NFL Draft coming up in April.
The 2025 NFL Draft is just over a month away with the first round taking place on Thursday, April 24. The league has now announced the 35 compensatory picks for 15 teams:
- Minnesota Vikings
- Miami Dolphins
- New York Giants
- San Francisco 49ers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Detroit Lions
- Baltimore Ravens
- Seattle Seahawks
- Buffalo Bills
- Dallas Cowboys
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Cleveland Browns
- Green Bay Packers
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
The NFL’s compensatory picks for the 2025 draft
The NFL awards compensatory draft picks to teams in the third through seventh rounds, with 32 of those based on the teams losing more or better free agents than they acquired in the previous offseason. Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time, and postseason honors. The others are given to teams who have hired minorities as head coaches or general managers.
For the 2025 draft, the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins were awarded a league-high four compensatory picks - the maximum awarded - through the free agency formula. The San Francisco 49ers also received four compensatory picks - three through the free agency formula and one for having DeMeco Ryans as head coach.
The #49ers have officially been awarded 4 compensatory picks in the 2025 NFL Draft:
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) March 11, 2025
Third round (No. 100)
Fourth round (No. 138)
Seventh round (Nos. 249, 252) pic.twitter.com/8CrH0MRHhk
These are all 35 of the compensatory picks awarded to 15 NFL teams for the upcoming draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin from April 24-26.
| Round | Round Choice/ Overall Selection | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Third | 33-97 | Minnesota Vikings |
| Third | 34-98 | Miami Dolphins |
| Third | 35-99 | New York Giants |
| Third | 36-100* | San Francisco 49ers |
| Third | 37-101* | Los Angeles Rams |
| Third | 38-102* | Detroit Lions |
| Fourth | 33-135 | Miami Dolphins |
| Fourth | 34-136 | Baltimore Ravens |
| Fourth | 35-137 | Seattle Seahawks |
| Fourth | 36-138 | San Francisco 49ers |
| Fifth | 33-169 | Buffalo Bills |
| Fifth | 34-170 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Fifth | 35-171 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Fifth | 36-172 | Seattle Seahawks |
| Fifth | 37-173 | Buffalo Bills |
| Fifth | 38-174 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Fifth | 39-175 | Seattle Seahawks |
| Fifth | 40-176 | Baltimore Ravens |
| Sixth | 33-209 | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Sixth | 34-210 | Baltimore Ravens |
| Sixth | 35-211 | Dallas Cowboys |
| Sixth | 36-212 | Baltimore Ravens |
| Sixth | 37-213 | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Sixth | 38-214 | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Sixth | 39-215 | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Sixth | 40-216 | Cleveland Browns |
| Seventh | 33-249 | San Francisco 49ers |
| Seventh | 34-250 | Green Bay Packers |
| Seventh | 35-251 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Seventh | 36-252 | San Francisco 49ers |
| Seventh | 37-253 | Miami Dolphins |
| Seventh | 38-254 | Cleveland Browns |
| Seventh | 39-255 | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Seventh | 40-256 | Miami Dolphins |
| Seventh | 41-257 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| *Special Compensatory Selection |
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