The Falcons picked up a pair of compensatory selections in the upcoming NFL Draft as Atlanta was awarded a fourth round choice (#133 overall) and a seventh rounder (#244 overall) by the NFL Management Council.
The picks were awarded under terms of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, in which a team which loses more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in a year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks. Since the system was instituted in 1994, the Falcons have a total of seven compensatory selections in the NFL Draft, which include the two awarded this year. Dallas has the most over the 1994-2007 period with 26 while Cleveland has had the least with one.
The number of picks a team receives equals the net loss of compensatory free agents up to a maximum of four (Falcons lost two: Barry Stokes, Kevin Shaffer). The 32 compensatory choices announced today will supplement the 223 choices in the seven rounds of the 2007 NFL Draft. 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.
One club this year (Cincinnati) will receive a compensatory pick even though it did not suffer a net loss of compensatory free agents. Under the formula, the compensatory free agents Cincinnati lost were ranked higher than the ones it signed (by a specified point differential based upon salary and performance).
The following 2007 draft picks have been determined by the NFL Management Council:
Third Round
- 33-96 -- San Diego
- 34-97 -- San Francisco
- 35-98 -- Indianapolis
- 36-99 -- Oakland
Fourth Round
- 33-132 -- Pittsburgh
- 34-133 -- Atlanta
- 35-134 -- Baltimore
- 36-135 -- San Francisco
- 37-136 -- Indianapolis
- 38-137 -- Baltimore
Fifth Round
- 33-170 -- Pittsburgh
- 34-171 -- New England
- 35-172 -- San Diego
- 36-173 -- Indianapolis
- 37-174 -- Baltimore
Sixth Round
- 33-207 -- Baltimore
- 34-208 -- New England
- 35-209 -- New England
- 36-210 -- Seattle
Seventh Round
- 33-243 -- Green Bay
- 34-244 -- Atlanta
- 35-245 -- Tampa Bay
- 36-246 -- Tampa Bay
- 37-247 -- New England
- 38-248 -- St. Louis
- 39-249 -- St. Louis
- 40-250 -- N.Y. Giants
- 41-251 -- Jacksonville
- 42-252 -- Jacksonville
- 43-253 -- Cincinnati
- 44-254 -- Oakland
- 45-255 -- Detroit
Picks 254-255 are supplemental compensatory picks (based upon draft-order formula) to fulfill the number of draft choices permitted by agreement with the NFL Players Association in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
