Compensatory Draft Picks

Every year I have the same complaint, but for the benefit of our newer members, I will rehash this as if it were a new thought.

It seems to me the Eagles end up with the most compensatory draft picks every year (this year they get four, which is the most allowed). I know the formula for receiving picks is based on free agents lost, and their salary/success elsewhere. I also know that the Eagles picked up two superstars in free agency. I can't for the life of me think of who they lost, but whoever they did lose, it seems it wasn't enough to keep them out of the Super Bowl.

When a team like the Titans, who was truly gutted by legitimate free agency losses last year (not just cutting players, like they did this year) turns into a 5-11 team because they lose multiple Pro Bowl caliber players, then compensatory draft picks make sense. When the Eagles let a middle linebacker because they don't want to match a big dollar deal, but go to the Super Bowl anyway, it insults the idea of league parity and building through the draft.

on the plus side, we can expect to be treated to extra picks in 2006 thanks to the losses of Smoot and Pierce.

the Eagles lost Marco Coleman, Carlos Emmons, Duce Staley, Bobby Taylor, Troy Vincent, and Bobbie Williams. Since those guys either played poorly or were injured all year, I don't know how they were worth so much.

So its based on the guys they lost last year?? I guess that makes a little sense. I always thought it was based on the players you lose at that perticular offseason; in which case I would think this is rediculous.

Brudlee! Dude, do you have a link so we can share in this sorrowful tale?
There may be other teams who lost players and now gain picks, and that would also be important.

http://steelers.scout.com/2/361988.html



Compensatory Draft Picks Announced
By Staff (javascript:location.href='http://search.scout.com/a.z?s=68&p=4&c=1&search=1&sskey=%22' + escape('Staff') + '%22&sssiteid=68';)
Date: Mar 21, 2005

A total of 32 compensatory choices in the 2005 NFL Draft have been awarded to 14 teams, the NFL announced today. Under terms of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in a year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks.



The number of picks a team receives equals the net loss of compensatory free agents up to a maximum of four. The 32 compensatory choices announced today will supplement the 223 choices in the seven rounds of the 2005 NFL Draft (April 23-24). This year, the compensatory picks will be positioned within the third through seventh rounds based on the value of the compensatory free agents lost.

Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. The formula was developed by the NFL Management Council. Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula.

The following 2005 draft picks have been determined by the NFL Management Council: ROUND OVERALL SELECTION TEAM 3 33-96 Tennessee 3 34-97 Denver 3 35-98 Seattle 3 36-99 Kansas City 3 37-100 New England 3 38-101 Denver 4 33-134 St. Louis 4 34-135 Indianapolis 4 35-136 Tennessee 5 33-169 Carolina 5 34-170 New England 5 35-171 Carolina 5 36-172 Philadelphia 5 37-173 Indianapolis 5 38-174 San Francisco 6 33-207 Carolina 6 34-208 Dallas 6 35-209 Dallas 6 36-210 St. Louis 6 37-211 Philadelphia 6 38-212 Oakland 6 39-213 Baltimore 6 40-214 Oakland 7 33-247 Philadelphia 7 34-248 San Francisco 7 35-249 San Francisco 7 36-250 St. Louis 7 37-251 St. Louis 7 38-252 Philadelphia 7 39-253 Tampa Bay 7 40-254 Seattle 7 41-255 New England



Following are the compensatory free agents lost and signed by the clubs that will receive compensatory picks in the 2005 NFL Draft: BALTIMORE Lost: Marcus Robinson CAROLINA Lost: Greg Favors, Deon Grant, Reggie Howard, Jeno James Signed: Brandon Short DALLAS Lost: Mario Edwards, Ebenezer Ekuban DENVER Lost: Bert Berry, Keith Burns, Ian Gold Signed: Marco Coleman INDIANAPOLIS Lost: David Macklin, Marcus Washington KANSAS CITY Lost: Jonathan Quinn, John Tait Signed: Chris Bober NEW ENGLAND Lost: Mike Compton, Bobby Hamilton, Ted Washington, Damien Woody Signed: Keith Traylor OAKLAND Lost: Eric Barton, Lorenzo Bromell, Roderick Coleman, Charlie Garner, Rick Mirer, Matt Stinchcomb Signed: Danny Clark, Bobby Hamilton, Warren Sapp, Ted Washington PHILADELPHIA Lost: Marco Coleman, Carlos Emmons, Duce Staley, Bobby Taylor, Troy Vincent, Bobbie Williams Signed: Dhani Jones, Jevon Kearse ST. LOUIS Lost: David Loverne, John St. Clair, Grant Wistrom, Brian Young SEATTLE Lost: Randall Godfrey, Shawn Springs, Reggie Tongue, Willie Williams Signed: Bobby Taylor, Grant Wistrom SAN FRANCISCO Lost: Travis Kirschke, Tai Streets, Jason Webster TAMPA BAY Lost: Thomas Jones, Shaun King, Warren Sapp, Aaron Stecker, Tom Tupa, Nate Webster, Todd Yoder Signed: Keith Burns, Mario Edwards, Charlie Garner, Ian Gold, Jeff Gooch, Matt Stinchcomb TENNESSEE Lost: Jevon Kearse, Robaire Smith TOTAL 2005 NFL COMPENSATORY DRAFT PICKS Philadelphia -- 4 St. Louis -- 4 Carolina -- 3 New England -- 3 San Francisco -- 3 Dallas -- 2 Denver -- 2 Indianapolis -- 2 Oakland -- 2 Seattle -- 2 Tennessee -- 2 Baltimore -- 1 Kansas City -- 1 Tampa Bay -- 1 TOTAL -- 32

That's why you build through the draft, instead of free agency. :oink:

That's why you build through the draft, instead of free agency. :oink:
I don't disagree. My point (and there is one) is that Philadelphia gained Jevon Kearse and Dhani Jones in free agency, both of whom received significant playing time and made signficant contribution, and gave up players who's impact was not nearly as pronounced. The fact that their new employers either paid too much for declining talent (Bobby Taylor, Troy Vincent), or signed a player whose injuries limited his production (Duce Staley), or picked up a player the Eagles had no intention of signing anyway (Marco Coleman) shouldn't be a reason to reward the Eagles.

Put it another way. If I could trade Bobby Taylor, Troy Vincent, Carlos Emmons, Duce Staley, and Marco Coleman for Jevon Kearse and Dhani Jones without cap implications, I'd do so in a heartbeat. You wouldn't need to throw in four draft picks to sweeten the deal.