The good news is that the San Francisco 49ers are projected to be awarded two draft picks next year for the losses of defensive linemen Solomon Thomas and Kerry Hyder. That could help, considering the team doesn't own a first-round pick in either of the next two drafts.
The bad news is that the selections are projected to be seventh-rounders. As they say, something is better than nothing.
Each year, 32 compensatory picks are awarded across the league. Who gets them is based on which players were lost and added the previous offseason. Basically, if you lost more qualifying free agents than you gained, you are awarded compensatory picks.
The bonus selections come in Rounds 3 through 7 and deciding who gets which pick is based on an internal formula that considers salary, playing time, and postseason awards. No NFL team can be awarded more than four selections.
NFL Media's Lance Zierlein provided a breakdown of next year's projected compensatory selections. Kendrick Bourne (Patriots), Kerry Hyder (Seahawks), Solomon Thomas (Raiders), and Ahkello Witherspoon (Seahawks) are listed as the 49ers' key free-agent losses this offseason. Click here for a rundown of all of San Francisco's offseason comings and goings.
Bourne and Witherspoon are offset by the additions of Samson Ebukam and Alex Mack, leaving Hyder and Thomas as the qualifying players.
San Francisco will be awarded a compensatory pick for the losses of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh (head coach, Jets) and VP of player personnel Martin Mayhew (GM, Washington) as part of the league's minority hiring program. However, the 49ers included the selection as part of the package to trade up to draft quarterback Trey Lance.
"And while Thomas probably doesn't belong in the 'key free-agent losses' category based on his time at San Francisco, his departure (along with Hyder's) will be responsible for the additional seventh-round selections that should come San Francisco's way," wrote Zierlein.
That should increase San Francisco's total selections next year from five to seven (Round 2, 3, 4, 5, and three in Round 7).
