The compensatory pick formula in the NFL Draft allots picks to teams based on gains and losses in the previous year's free agency. In 2022, the Detroit Lions got three compensatory picks that turned into Kerby Joseph, James Mitchell and James Houston in that draft. Last year, they didn't get any.
Such is the nature of a roster build that bore NFC Championship Game fruit in Year 3 under Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell.
The Lions were more aggressive in 2023 free agency, notably signing Cameron Sutton, David Montgomery, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Emmanuel Moseley, Graham Glasgow and Marvin Jones. On the flipside, they most notably lost Jamaal Williams, D.J. Chark, Evan Brown and Mike Hughes.
We know the Lions will have pick No. 29 in the first round this year, with their remaining picks likely close to where they'll actually be once all the compensatory picks are awarded.
Detroit Lions not set to receive any compensatory picks in 2024 NFL Draft
According to Over The Cap, 19 teams are not projected to receive any compensatory picks in April's draft. The Lions are one.
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- Chicago Bears
- Cleveland Browns
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Miami Dolphins
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- New York Giants
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Seattle Seahawks
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tennessee Titans
- Washington Commanders
Via Over The Cap's chart the Lions gained five qualifying free agents last offseason (Sutton, Montgomery, Moseley, Gardner-Johnson and Jones), and lost four qualifying free agents (Williams, Chark, Brown and Hughes). The loss of linebacker Chris Board was not factored into the equation.
With a reminder that everything beyond the first round (or actually the first two rounds based on what we're seeing in Over The Cap's compensatory pick chart) is not locked in, here's where the Lions' 2024 draft picks currently sit.
- First Round: No. 29 overall
- Second Round: No. 61 overall
- Third Round: No. 73 overall (from the Vikings in the T.J. Hockenson trade)
- Third Round: No. 92 overall (would be No. 93 if Dolphins hadn't forfeited their 2023 third-round pick)
- Fifth Round: No. 162 overall
- Sixth Round: No. 206 overall
- Seventh Round: No. 246 overall