NFL DRAFT NEWS

NFL awards compensatory draft picks

The Sports Xchange

March 23, 2015 at 10:31 pm.

The NFC champion Seattle Seahawks, AFC West champion Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs will each receive four compensatory picks in this year’s draft, the NFL announced Monday.

The league awarded 32 picks to teams based on the net loss of free agents in 2014, with a maximum of four per team. Players’ values are based on a formula that takes into account salary, playing time and postseason honors.

The Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans each will make three compensatory selections. The Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots each were awarded two compensatory picks. The Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and St. Louis Rams will have one compensatory selection apiece.

The top three compensatory picks will come at the end of the third round: No. 97 overall to New England, No. 98 to Kansas City and No. 99 to Cincinnati.

The Seahawks saw the departure of cornerback Brandon Browner, offensive tackle Breno Giacomini, safety Chris Maragos, defensive tackle Clinton McDonald, offensive lineman Paul McQuistan, wide receiver Golden Tate and cornerback Walter Thurmond, and they did not sign a free agent to replace any of them.

The Broncos lost eight free agents — defensive end Robert Ayers, offensive lineman Zane Beadles, wide receiver Eric Decker, defensive end Jeremy Mincey, running back Knowshon Moreno, linebacker Shaun Phillips, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and linebacker Wesley Woodyard — while adding three — wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, cornerback Aqib Talib and safety T.J. Ward.

Offensive tackle Branden Albert, offensive guard Jon Asamoah, safety Quintin Demps, defensive tackle Tyson Jackson, linebacker Akeem Jordan, safety Kendrick Lewis, kick returner/receiver Dexter McCluster and offensive guard Geoff Schwartz all left the Chiefs, who brought in linebacker Joe Mays and defensive tackle Vance Walker.

Five compensatory picks will be made at the end of the fourth round, seven after the fifth round, 10 after the sixth round and seven after the seventh round. The Cardinals own the final selection, No. 256 overall.