Packers hit with underwhelming NFL update that will affect their available draft capital this year
It’s not the expected outcome.
The Green Bay Packers expected to receive two compensatory picks this year. Well, it turns out that there will be only one. The NFL officially announced the compensatory picks for the 2026 draft on Monday, two days ahead of the new league year, and the Packers will have a seventh-rounder.
Precisely, it’s the 255th overall pick.
Why it’s underwhelming for the Packers
It’s a secret formula created by the NFL, but Over the Cap does a great job projecting the compensatory picks. They had the Packers with two seventh-rounders. After all, the Packers only qualified for one.
This is how compensatory picks work: It’s a tool for the NFL to compensate teams that lose more free agents than they sign in a given year.
The qualification is based on yearly average of the contract signed, playing time throughout the season, and individual awards.
Last year, the Packers lost TJ Slaton and Eric Stokes in free agency, but those comp picks were canceled out by the signings of Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs. However, the team also lost center Josh Myers and linebacker Eric Wilson.
Based on Over the Cap projections, those two departures would net the Packers picks. However, the combination of Wilson’s $2.75 million contract and his snaps for the Minnesota Vikings were not enough — just Myers, who signed a $3 million deal with the New York Jets and played almost every offensive snap, did.
So, the Packers end up with only one compensatory pick. Because they don’t have a first-rounder, sent to the Dallas Cowboys in the Micah Parsons’ trade, Green Bay is set to have seven total picks.
Situation is better for 2027
In 2027, the Packers can have up to four compensatory picks. It will be a third- or fourth-rounder for Malik Willis, who signed with the Miami Dolphins. Left tackle Rasheed Walker, linebacker Quay Walker, and wide receiver Romeo Doubs are all set to generate some type of compensation.
Even if the Packers sign an external free agent, there is some margin for error because edge defender Kingsley Enagbare signed a $10 million deal with the New York Jets.
The Packers didn’t have their own first- and sixth-rounders next year because of the trades for Parsons and Darian Kinnard, but have an extra fourth acquired on Monday from the Cowboys for Rashan Gary.
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