FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons received a third-round compensatory pick in the 2008 NFL Draft Monday afternoon. The pick is the No. 35 selection in the third round (No. 98 overall).
Atlanta now has seven picks in the first 103 spots of the player selection meeting. The team has one first-round pick, three second-round selections and two third-round choices. The team also has a top-five selection in the fourth round. The Falcons' three second-round selections mark the team's most in that round since 1972.
Only four teams were awarded third-round compensatory picks Monday: Atlanta, Washington, Cincinnati and Baltimore.
The complex formula used to determine compensatory picks is a closely-guarded one, but is basically based on a team's net gain/loss in free agency from the previous season. According to a press release provided by the NFL, "compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors." Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula.
According to the NFL, players noted in this year's formula included Ovie Mughelli and Lewis Sanders. The team's 2007 losses included fullback Justin Griffin, defensive end Patrick Kerney and wide receiver Ashley Lelie.
Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the NFL Management Council awards compensatory picks. These picks can not be traded and are supplements to the NFL Draft. A total of 32 compensatory choices in the Draft were awarded to 15 teams.
One club this year (St. Louis) will receive a compensatory pick even though it did not suffer a net loss of compensatory free agents. Under the formula, the compensatory free agents St. Louis lost were ranked higher than the ones it signed (by a specified point differential based upon salary and performance).
Since 1994, the Falcons have been given eight compensatory picks in the NFL Draft.
RELATED LINKS:
- BLOG: J. Mike talks about the Draft in his FalconsLIFE blog
- NEWS: Falcons trade Hall to Oakland, get No. 34 pick
- NEWS: Falcons win coin flip, will pick third overall
- NEWS: Falcons head coach talks Draft at Combine
- DRAFT ORDER: First-round draft order | Complete NFL Draft order
- DRAFTBUSTERS: AF.com at the Combine | Senior Bowl
- MOCK TRACKER: Thoughts on the first round from around the Web
- FALCONCAST: Draft podcasts from the AF.com crew | Subscribe
- NFL.COM: Completed draft coverage from NFL.com
2008 Compensatory Draft Picks
| Round | Round Choice - Overall Selection | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 33-96 | Washington |
| 3 | 34-97 | Cincinnati |
| 3 | 35-98 | Atlanta |
| 3 | 36-99 | Baltimore |
| 4 | 33-131 | Philadelphia |
| 4 | 34-132 | Buffalo |
| 4 | 35-133 | Baltimore |
| 4 | 36-134 | Tennessee |
| 4 | 37-135 | Green Bay |
| 5 | 33-166 | San Diego |
| 6 | 33-199 | New York Giants |
| 6 | 34-200 | Philadelphia |
| 6 | 35-201 | Indianapolis |
| 6 | 36-202 | Indianapolis |
| 6 | 37-203 | Philadelphia |
| 6 | 38-204 | Miami |
| 6 | 39-205 | Indianapolis |
| 6 | 40-206 | Baltimore |
| 6 | 41-207 | Cincinnati |
| 7 | 33-240 | Baltimore |
| 7 | 34-241 | Carolina |
| 7 | 35-242 | Washington |
| 7 | 36-243 | Chicago |
| 7 | 37-244 | Cincinnati |
| 7 | 38-245 | Miami |
| 7 | 39-246 | Cincinnati |
| 7 | 40-247 | Chicago |
| 7 | 41-248 | Chicago |
| 7 | 42-249 | Washington |
| 7 | 43-250 | Carolina |
| 7 | 44-251 | Buffalo |
| 7 | 45-252 | St. Louis |
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