Bears Shut Out on Compensatory Picks, Packers Pick Up Third and Fifth Rounders
Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the NFL shield logo and main stage before the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
It’s no big surprise; the Chicago Bears have been shut out in the compensatory draft picks department yet again. It’s a complicated, top-secret formula that I’m not convince anyone really understands. The basics of it are based on the previous season’s offseason player movement to offset free agent movement. You sort of net out the comings and goings and the league awards compensation based on contracts and performance of players who came and went.
Last offseason, the Bears picked up Jermon Bushrod, Martellus Bennett, James Anderson and DJ Williams but lost Nick Roach and Jason Campbell. Brian Urlacher’s retirement or cuts to other players who got scooped up don’t figure into the equation.
Meanwhile, the Bears’ biggest rivals – the Green Bay Packers – picked up a couple of extra selections including a pick at the end of the third round and another pick at the end of the 5th round. The Packers didn’t sign any free agents last offseason but lost Greg Jennings and Erik Walden (who?).
The Detroit Lions also picked up an extra draft pick, the 33rd pick of the fourth round. The Lions lost 5 free agents last offseason but only picked up three Free Agents.
Check out which 13 teams were awarded 32 compensatory picks here. The Bears have been awarded compensatory picks 17 times since the system was put in place back in 1994. As long as they continue to gobble up big name free agents without losing their own, don’t figure on them getting any compensatory picks.
Looking ahead to 2015, the Bears picked up Lamarr Houston, Ryan Mundy and Willie Young while losing Devin Hester, Josh McCown, Henry Melton and Corey Wootton. While it may be painful, Bears fans should be rooting for their former players to succeed in their new homes to hope to nab an extra pick or two.