I get the feeling this is an aspect few understand, so I will do my best to explain it ( be forewarned, its idiotic)
-The equation is based off of the total "Compensatory Free Agents" (CFA's) lost vs gained
- A compensatory free agent is defined as one that meets all of the criteria:
1. A player that was an UFA at the start of the season.
2. A player who got to UFA status because he reached the end of their contract naturally, without being cut, terminated for cause, or having an option declined (though for whatever reason, declining first rounder fifth year options doesnt seem to matter to that clause).
3. A player that falls within the top 35% of all NFL players at the end of the season he switched teams based on the following point system ( kickers and punters have a separate formula)
A. An inverse ranking of all contracts by value
B. 1 point per each percentage of snaps they play for their team ( so an injury can drop their value)
C. 5 points for Pro Football writer all pro team awards
D. 20 points for the OPOTY, DPOTY, or MVP awards
Once the entire league is totaled up the comp picks rankings are awarded as thus:
a CFA that ranked in the Top 5% of all NFL players is valued at a 3rd round pick.
a CFA that ranked in the Top 6-10% of all NFL players is valued at a 4th round pick.
a CFA that ranked in the Top 11-15% of all NFL players is valued at a 5th round pick.
a CFA that ranked in the Top 16-25% of all NFL players is valued at a 6th round pick.
a CFA that ranked in the Top 26-35% of all NFL players is valued at a 7th round pick.
After all the values of CFAs are then known, tge cancelation process begins
So if you only gained a 3rd round pick and one left in UFA, they cancel out... you get nothing
If you gained a third round pick, but lost a fourth and a fifth round value, the third would cancel out the fourth, and you would get the fifth
This also works in reverse; if you lost a third rounder but gained a sixth, you still get nothing .. well maybe... because there also is a "net value" equation that kicks in if you gained and lost the same amount of CFAs...
Basically if the point total of your CFA points lost minus your gains is within the range of a comp pick, you may get that pick... so last year (2024) the cutoff for a seventh round pick was 1257 points... if you lost say, 5 CFAs worth 10000 points and gained 5 worth 8743 points, you would be eligible for a seventh round comp pick...
Now because the NFL is extra complicated, here are the other rules pertaining to it
A ten year non qb vet that qualifies as a CFA can not get you higher than a fifth round comp pick
A team may not get more than 4 comp picks in a draft
This comp pick system (which is not the same as the comp picks given out for diversity hires from your coaching staff) can only award a total of 32 picks... if it is fewer, they take the highest rated non CFA free age ts into account until 32 are issued, if its more, then the lowest comp picks over 32 are cut out...
Over the cap has a far more detailed breakdown, but it isnt as simple as some think it is... its a mess, and heavily exploited by teams like the Ravens
-The equation is based off of the total "Compensatory Free Agents" (CFA's) lost vs gained
- A compensatory free agent is defined as one that meets all of the criteria:
1. A player that was an UFA at the start of the season.
2. A player who got to UFA status because he reached the end of their contract naturally, without being cut, terminated for cause, or having an option declined (though for whatever reason, declining first rounder fifth year options doesnt seem to matter to that clause).
3. A player that falls within the top 35% of all NFL players at the end of the season he switched teams based on the following point system ( kickers and punters have a separate formula)
A. An inverse ranking of all contracts by value
B. 1 point per each percentage of snaps they play for their team ( so an injury can drop their value)
C. 5 points for Pro Football writer all pro team awards
D. 20 points for the OPOTY, DPOTY, or MVP awards
Once the entire league is totaled up the comp picks rankings are awarded as thus:
a CFA that ranked in the Top 5% of all NFL players is valued at a 3rd round pick.
a CFA that ranked in the Top 6-10% of all NFL players is valued at a 4th round pick.
a CFA that ranked in the Top 11-15% of all NFL players is valued at a 5th round pick.
a CFA that ranked in the Top 16-25% of all NFL players is valued at a 6th round pick.
a CFA that ranked in the Top 26-35% of all NFL players is valued at a 7th round pick.
After all the values of CFAs are then known, tge cancelation process begins
So if you only gained a 3rd round pick and one left in UFA, they cancel out... you get nothing
If you gained a third round pick, but lost a fourth and a fifth round value, the third would cancel out the fourth, and you would get the fifth
This also works in reverse; if you lost a third rounder but gained a sixth, you still get nothing .. well maybe... because there also is a "net value" equation that kicks in if you gained and lost the same amount of CFAs...
Basically if the point total of your CFA points lost minus your gains is within the range of a comp pick, you may get that pick... so last year (2024) the cutoff for a seventh round pick was 1257 points... if you lost say, 5 CFAs worth 10000 points and gained 5 worth 8743 points, you would be eligible for a seventh round comp pick...
Now because the NFL is extra complicated, here are the other rules pertaining to it
A ten year non qb vet that qualifies as a CFA can not get you higher than a fifth round comp pick
A team may not get more than 4 comp picks in a draft
This comp pick system (which is not the same as the comp picks given out for diversity hires from your coaching staff) can only award a total of 32 picks... if it is fewer, they take the highest rated non CFA free age ts into account until 32 are issued, if its more, then the lowest comp picks over 32 are cut out...
Over the cap has a far more detailed breakdown, but it isnt as simple as some think it is... its a mess, and heavily exploited by teams like the Ravens