The Green Bay Packers have just received more draft capital to work with this year. The NFL announced the 2024 compensatory picks, and the Packers will get three extra selections – the limit for additional picks a team can get for losing players in free agency is four.

General manager Brian Gutekunst will have an extra fifth-, a sixth-, and a seventh-rounder.

Why they are getting it

It's not fun when a team loses a big name in free agency, but at least there's a chance to mitigate the loss, somewhat, thanks to the NFL's compensatory draft pick system.

How the actual system works is unknown, but the method of determining which teams receive what picks essentially boils down to as such: The bigger the contract signed by the departed player, the higher the draft pick, but teams will never receive anything higher than a third-rounder. The picks are cancelled out once teams sign a player, or players, in free agency. The NFL awards 32 picks, in all, each year and teams are given no more than four picks, apiece.

Nowadays, teams are also awarded third-round compensatory selections for two years if they lose a minority coach or executive to a promotion with another team — since the person becomes a head coach or general manager elsewhere. They receive individual picks for each coach/executive, like the San Francisco 49ers and DeMeco Ryans and Ran Carthon.

The most valuable free agent loss for the Packers was wide receiver Allen Lazard, who signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the New York Jets and will allow the Packers to get a fifth.

Defensive tackle Jarran Reed signed with the Seattle Seahawks, and defensive lineman Dean Lowry went to the Minnesota Vikings.

Non-qualifying FAs

Tight ends Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis signed with the Chicago Bears, safety Adrian Amos and wide receiver Randall Cobb went to the New York Jets, and linebacker Krys Barnes signed with the Arizona Cardinals. However, not for enough money or soon enough to qualify for the formula.

Packers free agent losses

• 5th WR Allen Lazard – $11 million
• 6th DT Jarran Reed – $4.5 million
• 7th DT Dean Lowry – $4.25 million

No unrestricted free agent signed by the Packers made the 53-man roster. The only addition was safety Tarvarius Moore, but he was cut after training camp. Long snapper Matt Orzech didn't get enough money to qualify. The other signings were street free agents, who didn't affect the compensatory pick formula.

Draft capital

With the three extra selections, the Packers will have 11 total draft picks in April.

They have six of their seven original picks – the exception is the fifth-round pick, sent to the Buffalo Bills alongside cornerback Rasul Douglas.

Besides their own selections, the Packers have an extra second-rounder from the New York Jets because of the Aaron Rodgers trade, and the extra third from the Bills in the Douglas deal.

Free agent market offers several options for the Packers to add to key position

Green Bay needs to add players to the room