After the L.A. Rams traded Van Jefferson to the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday for a pick swap in 2025, there was some speculation on Twitter that the fourth-year receiver might have netted the Rams a better deal if the team had simply waited until he becomes a 2024 free agent. If a player’s contract expires and he signs with another team for a certain amount of money, AND if the original team doesn’t sign a comparable free agent that would offset the loss, then the original team receives a “compensatory pick” the following year.
It happens all the time and it happens to the Rams sometimes.