League Expected To Allow Trading Of Compensatory Draft Picks In 2016

Beginning in 2016, the National Football League will allow teams to trade compensatory draft picks, according to an ESPN report. The league generally hands out 32 picks, with those picks being awarded to certain teams based on how many free agents they lost. The Ravens under Ozzie Newson have been the kings of the compensatory pick process, and they should earn several more this season after Pernell McPhee and Torrey Smith signed big free-agent deals elsewhere. If those three teams were to get four picks for the 2016 draft, they’d be allowed to trade them.

Until now, compensatory picks couldn’t be traded, but a team can trade the player it drafted with a compensatory pick.

Tom Brady, Matt Hasselbeck, Hines Ward, Marques Colston, Larry Allen and Brian Dawkins are a few of the most famous compensatory picks all time. You can see where your team stands at OvertheCap.com.

The Detroit Lions are expected to net at least two compensatory selections next year after losing defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley in free agency. Should be more trades. Cornerback William Gay was a compensatory pick in the fifth round of the 2007 draft, as was tackle Kelvin Beachum at the end of the seventh round in 2012. Other teams that could see a third-round pick are the New England Patriots (for the loss of Darrelle Revis), the Seattle Seahawks (for the loss of Byron Maxwell), and the Denver Broncos for the loss of Byron Maxwell. This expected new ruling will give them even more opportunity to do so – especially in this particular draft year.