It’s what Ted Thompson dreams of all year long after he lets his own free agents walk and doesn’t sign anyone else’s. How many compensatory draft picks am I going to land this year!?!
He’s like a child on Christmas Eve and today is his Christmas.
In 2017, the Green Bay Packers will get one compensatory pick.
It’s a fifth-round selection at No. 184 overall.
The Packers were awarded the pick for losing cornerback Casey Hayward in free agency. They also lost backup quarterback Scott Tolzien, but his contract, playing time and league honors — all of which factor into the formula for awarding these picks — didn’t grade out high enough to earn a second pick.
Hayward, on the other hand, made his first Pro Bowl and was a second-team All Pro for the then San Diego Chargers. He played in all 16 games and started 14.
The number of compensatory picks is capped at 32 and only 16 teams received one (or more) this year. Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver and Kansas City each received four. Miami, which received three picks, also received the highest one, a third-rounder at No. 97.
Compensatory picks fall at the end of rounds three through seven. The Packers nabbed two fourth-round picks last year, with which they selected linebacker Blake Martinez and defensive end Dean Lowry.
There is one wild card this year. For the first time in history, the league is allowing teams to trade compensatory selections, which we imagine makes Ted giddy with joy.