With the 2024 NFL Draft just around the bend, the San Francisco 49ers are all set. They now know their picks across the board for each of the seven rounds. The excitement kicked up a notch this Friday when the NFL unveiled 34 compensatory selections, with the 49ers snagging an impressive five extra picks, the most any team received this time around.
These additional picks have bumped up the 49ers’ draft count to a solid 11, giving them a significant edge as they head into draft season. As Draft day draws closer, 49ers fans and the team are eager to see how these picks will shape the future of their team.
San Francisco 49ers come out on top
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The San Francisco 49ers have struck gold with a bounty of five compensatory selections for the 2024 NFL Draft. This evens out the imbalance from last year’s free-agency departures and arrivals. This boosts their arsenal to a hefty 11 picks for the draft, which is just around the corner, less than two months away.
49ers 2024 NFL Draft
Rd 1: No. 31
Rd 2: No. 63
Rd 3: No. 94
Rd 4: No. 123 (via Dallas)
Rd 4: No. 130
Rd 4: No. 132 (Compensatory)
Rd 5: No. 175 (Compensatory)
Rd 6: No. 211 (Compensatory)
Rd 6: No. 215 (Compensatory)
Rd 7: No. 232 (via Broncos)
Rd 7: No. 251— Matt Maiocco (Threads @maiocconbcs) (@MaioccoNBCS) March 9, 2024
The NFL doled out 34 compensatory picks this Friday, with the 49ers topping the charts by snagging five, the most any team received. These extra picks, across the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds, are a silver lining for the 49ers, compensating for the nine free agents they waved goodbye to.
While the 49ers lead the pack with their compensatory picks, they’re not alone in getting a boost. The Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles each received four. It’s all part of the NFL’s balancing act, where a total of 32 compensatory picks are sprinkled across teams each year to keep the playing field level.
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How are the extra picks decided?
It’s all about fairness. If a team ends up with a net loss of qualifying free agents, known as compensatory free agents (CFAs), the NFL steps in to even things out with extra picks in the draft. These CFAs are not just any players. They’re ones who’ve made their mark through salary, playtime, and even postseason accolades, and there’s a special formula crafted by the NFL Management Council to figure out who qualifies.
Not every player who changes teams will tip the scales for compensatory picks, though. Only those losses and gains that fit within this carefully constructed formula count. And there’s a cap on generosity – team can bag up to four compensatory picks in a year, but there’s a twist. Special Compensatory Selections are also on the table for teams that see their minority employees move on to big roles like head coach or general manager at other clubs. This year, it’s the Rams and 49ers who’ve nabbed these special nods.
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Since this whole compensatory pick process kicked off in 1994, the Baltimore Ravens have come out on top, amassing a whopping 56 selections, more than any other team in the league. It’s a system that adds a layer of strategy to the off-season, rewarding teams that nurture talent and making the draft that much more intriguing.