The NFL has officially announced the allocation of 35 compensatory draft picks to 15 teams, establishing the order for the highly anticipated 2025 NFL Draft. This event is scheduled to take place from April 24 to April 26, 2025. Compensatory picks are crucial for teams aiming to enhance their rosters, as they are awarded based on the compensatory free agents (CFAs) that leave a team during the previous offseason.
Compensatory picks are granted in addition to the standard seven draft picks that each NFL team receives, one for each round. According to NFL policy, teams that lose more or better compensatory free agents than they acquire in the previous year qualify for these valuable picks. The positioning of compensatory picks occurs within the third through seventh rounds, determined by the value of the CFAs lost.
The process for determining compensatory free agents involves a formula that considers factors such as salary, playing time, and postseason accomplishments. This formula was established by the NFL Management Council. It’s important to note that not every free agent lost or signed is covered by this formula. Only clubs that experience a net loss of CFAs during the free agency signing period are eligible for compensatory selections.
This year, three teams—namely the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins—were awarded the maximum possible amount of compensatory picks, totaling four each. In addition to the 32 traditional compensatory picks, three special picks were allocated to the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, and Detroit Lions. These special picks are a result of an agreement related to equal employment opportunity promotions set forth in the 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Since the inception of compensatory picks in 1994, the Baltimore Ravens have led the league with a remarkable total of 60 compensatory selections, reflecting their strong management of player contracts and free agency.
Here’s a detailed list of the awarded compensatory draft picks for the 2025 NFL Draft:
Round 3 3-97: Minnesota Vikings 3-98: Miami Dolphins 3-99: New York Giants 3-100: San Francisco 49ers 3-101: Los Angeles Rams 3-102: Detroit LionsRound 4 4-135: Miami Dolphins 4-136: Baltimore Ravens 4-137: Seattle Seahawks 4-138: San Francisco 49ersRound 5 5-169: Buffalo Bills 5-170: Dallas Cowboys 5-171: Dallas Cowboys 5-172: Seattle Seahawks 5-173: Buffalo Bills 5-174: Dallas Cowboys 5-175: Seattle Seahawks 5-176: Baltimore RavensRound 6 6-209: Los Angeles Chargers 6-210: Baltimore Ravens 6-211: Dallas Cowboys 6-212: Baltimore Ravens 6-213: Las Vegas Raiders 6-214: Los Angeles Chargers 6-215: Las Vegas Raiders 6-216: Cleveland BrownsRound 7 7-249: San Francisco 49ers 7-250: Green Bay Packers 7-251: Kansas City Chiefs 7-252: San Francisco 49ers 7-253: Miami Dolphins 7-254: Cleveland Browns 7-255: Los Angeles Chargers 7-256: Miami Dolphins 7-257: Kansas City ChiefsFor more insights on the upcoming draft, check out our articles on the 2025 NFL mock draft, where the Giants trade up for the No. 1 pick, and also explore our 2025 NFL Draft Big Board to discover the top 100 prospects in this year's class and analyze the implications of their combine performances.
