The NFL Friday awarded the Seahawks three compensatory picks — third round (97), fifth (171) and sixth (215) — in the 2016 NFL draft due to the number and quality of free agents the team lost in 2015. GM John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll will have nine selections, including the 26th choice in the first round.
Seattle will have one pick in the second round (own), two in the third (own, compensatory), one in the fourth (own), one in the fifth (compensatory), one in the sixth (compensatory) and two in the seventh (own, another acquired in last year’s Christine Michael trade to Dallas).
The Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers were all awarded four compensatory picks Friday. In all, the league distributed 33 compensatory picks among 13 teams.
Seattle’s compensatory picks come as a result of the free-agent departures last year of cornerback Byron Maxwell (to Philadelphia) and G James Carpenter (New York Jets), as well as the defections of linebacker Malcolm Smith (Oakland), DB Jeron Johnson (Washington) and LB O’Brien Schofield (Atlanta).
The Seahawks would have had four compensatory picks, but signed DT Ahtyba Rubin last year from the Cleveland Browns. Rubin started last season and earlier this week signed a three-year, $12 million contract to remain with the Seahawks.
Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula that takes into account salary, playing time and postseason honors.
This year’s draft will be held April 28-30.
