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Patriots, Cowboys, 49ers get 4 compensatory picks (The Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) -- New England, Dallas and San Francisco each will get four compensatory picks in April's NFL draft.

A team losing more or better free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks. The Patriots lost cornerback Darrelle Revis, for example, and Dallas lost running back DeMarco Murray.

Compensatory picks, distributed at the end of the third through sixth rounds, may not be traded this year. A rule change will allow them to be dealt beginning in 2017.

Four teams will have such selections in the third round: Detroit (95th overall), New England (96th), Seattle (97th) and Denver (98th).