AL.com · May 12, 2016
NFL deadline could spur interest in veterans without teams
The NFL awards compensatory draft picks to teams that lose more or better unrestricted free agents than they acquire in the previous year. Where a free agent ranks on the compensatory scale is determined by a formula that uses salary, playing time and accolades. As of Thursday, the signings won’t affect the balance, so a team signing quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, considered the top remaining free agent, won’t increase the New York Jets’ chances or decrease the signing team’s opportunity of getting compensatory picks. The 2016 NFL Draft included 33 compensatory picks, added at the end of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds.