The National Football League has awarded 33 compensatory selections to 15 teams for the 2026 NFL Draft, with several franchises receiving additional picks after losing more qualifying free agents than they signed during the 2025 offseason.

The compensatory selections, which fall between the third and seventh rounds, are distributed annually based on a formula developed by the league’s Management Council that evaluates the salary, playing time and postseason honours of free agents who change teams. Clubs that suffer a net loss of qualifying compensatory free agents during the previous free-agency cycle become eligible for the additional selections.

Among the biggest beneficiaries this year are the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, each of whom were awarded the maximum four compensatory picks. The San Francisco 49ers received three selections, while the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets each received two.

Single compensatory selections were awarded to the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints.

The highest selections fall at the end of the third round, with the Vikings, Eagles and Steelers receiving the top three compensatory picks. An additional special compensatory selection in the third round was awarded to the Lions under a provision in the 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement designed to promote diversity in hiring. Under that initiative, teams that develop minority coaches or executives who are subsequently hired by another club as a head coach or primary football executive are awarded additional draft compensation. The selection awarded this year represents the first of the Lions’ two such picks tied to the programme — but has since been traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Compensatory picks have been part of the draft system since 1994 and are designed to offset roster losses during free agency. Teams may receive up to four compensatory selections in a single year, with the highest-valued qualifying free agents determining the positioning of the picks.

The additional selections will be slotted into the draft order for the 2026 NFL Draft, which is scheduled to take place in Pittsburgh from April 23rd-25th, but can also be used as collateral in trades, meaning actual ownership of the picks may yet change hands before the draft weekend.