All articles tagged with #compensatory pick
Steelers owner Art Rooney II said he still expects to know whether Aaron Rodgers will play for Pittsburgh this season in the next few weeks, noting ongoing communication with Rodgers. The team recently used an unrestricted free agent tender mainly to preserve a potential compensatory pick if Rodgers signs elsewhere, but Rooney said that outcome isn’t expected; the key question remains Rodgers’ plans for 2026.
Steelers owner Art Rooney II said Pittsburgh placed an unrestricted free agent tender on Aaron Rodgers mainly as insurance to preserve a possible compensatory pick and secure exclusive negotiating rights; the team doesn’t expect Rodgers to leave, but is awaiting his decision which Rooney now predicts will come in the next few weeks, aided by their selection of Drew Allar in the draft.
The Steelers reportedly placed a rare right-of-first-refusal tender on Aaron Rodgers, allowing him to negotiate with other teams but giving Pittsburgh the right to match any offer and a roughly 10% raise (about $15 million) for this season. A key condition: Rodgers would only be able to sign with the Steelers once training camp begins; if he signs with another team before July 22, he could become a compensatory free agent, potentially earning the Steelers a 2027 compensatory draft pick if that happens.
The Steelers granted Aaron Rodgers a rare right-of-first-refusal tender, meaning they can match any offer he signs or receive a compensatory pick if he leaves; after July 22 they hold exclusive negotiating rights, so a midseason return to a different team would require a sign-and-trade. With Rodgers’ future uncertain at age 43 and Pittsburgh drafting Drew Allar, the move tightens control over Rodgers’ 2026 status.
The Minnesota Vikings were awarded one compensatory selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, the 97th overall pick—the first compensatory pick of the draft and one of four added to the end of Round 3—due to Sam Darnold’s 2025 free-agent departure. This marks Minnesota’s second straight year with the first compensatory pick and gives the team nine picks in 2026 (Round 1, 18th; Round 2, 49th; Round 3, 82nd and 97th compensatory; Round 5, 163rd from Eagles; Round 6, 196th from Colts; and three Round 7 selections at 234th, 235th (from Panthers), and 244th (from Texans)).
The NFL announced 33 compensatory picks for the 2026 draft, with Detroit owning a single fifth-round compensatory pick (181) based on its 2025 free-agent losses (Zeitler, Davis, Melifonwu) and additions (Lopez, Reed). A Rooney Rule-based third-round compensatory pick Detroit previously held was traded to Jacksonville, and the Lions are projected to have nine picks in 2026 across multiple rounds, with the full draft order to be released soon.
The Detroit Lions traded running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans for Houston’s 2026 fourth‑round pick, a 2027 seventh‑round pick, and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs. The move leaves Detroit with nine 2026 draft selections and sparks discussion about potential compensatory picks and how GM Brad Holmes might maneuver in the first round.
Malik Willis is set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 11, with reports that he could command around $30 million per year, potentially yielding the Packers a third-round compensatory pick in return for the 2024 seventh-round trade; Willis impressed filling in for injured Jordan Love and is expected to draw significant interest as a top quarterback option on the market despite limited NFL exposure.
The Buffalo Bills have been awarded a Round 4 compensatory pick (pick 133 overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft due to the loss of free-agent linebacker Tremaine Edmunds during last year's free agency. The process for awarding compensatory picks involves a formula based on salary, playing time, and postseason honors for each NFL player, as well as considerations for teams' gains and losses. Questions have been raised about the transparency and accuracy of the process, with some suggesting that errors may have been made by the NFL Management Council.
The Buffalo Bills were awarded a compensatory pick for losing linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to the Chicago Bears in free agency, but it turned out to be a fourth round selection instead of the expected third round pick. Despite projections and expectations, the team will not have a third round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft due to the formula used by the league.
The New York Giants decided not to use the transition tag on safety Xavier McKinney due to concerns about the evolving safety market and the potential impact on their ability to match offers. By not using the tag, they retain the right of first refusal but risk losing compensation if McKinney leaves in free agency. The decision reflects the team's need to address multiple roster gaps and the potential impact on compensatory picks.