NFL free agency goes a long way in shaping the futures of many teams. Just below the the surface of free agency, a new key cog of roster construction has emerged—compensatory draft picks.
Many teams have been content to let free agents walk with the promise of being given a compensation in the form of an extra draft pick or three in Round Three through Seven.
Where these picks fall is determined by a proprietary formula that’s based on the departing player's salary, playing time, and postseason honors accumulated with his new team, though salary is the primary factor.