NFL Announces 2026 Compensatory Picks
The NFL has awarded compensatory draft picks for teams in the 2026 draft. Based on an add/subtract formula that covers the 2025 free agency period, comp picks span from Round 3 to Round 7. The higher picks go to the teams that endured the most significant free agent losses.
This year, the NFL awarded 33 comp picks. The comp pick formula assigns picks to franchises who suffered the largest net losses, so teams that signed multiple free agents have a lesser chance of receiving picks.
Sorted by round and by team, here are the league’s 2026 compensatory selections:
By round:
Round 3: Vikings (No. 97), Eagles (98), Steelers (99), Jaguars (100, from Lions*)
Round 4: 49ers (No. 133), Raiders (134), Steelers (135), Saints (136), Eagles (137), 49ers (138), 49ers (139), Jets (140)
Round 5: Ravens (No. 173), Ravens (174), Raiders (175), Chiefs (176), Cowboys (177), Eagles (178), Jets (179), Cowboys (180), Lions (181)
Round 6: Steelers (No. 214), Eagles (215), Steelers (216)
Round 7: Colts (No. 249), Ravens (250), Rams (251), Rams (252), Ravens (253), Colts (254), Packers (255), Bronc0s (256), Broncos (257)
By team:
- Baltimore Ravens: 4
- Philadelphia Eagles: 4
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 4
- San Francisco 49ers: 3
- Dallas Cowboys: 2
- Denver Broncos: 2
- Indianapolis Colts: 2
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2
- Los Angeles Rams: 2
- New York Jets: 2
- Detroit Lions: 1
- Green Bay Packers: 1
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 1
- Kansas City Chiefs: 1
- Minnesota Vikings: 1
- New Orleans Saints: 1
* = awarded for Lions DC Aaron Glenn becoming Jets’ HC
The Bears lost a minority executive to a GM role, with Ian Cunningham taking over in Atlanta. But the NFL will not award Chicago two third-round picks for that hire because the Falcons have Matt Ryan positioned as their president of football. Although Cunningham — Chicago’s assistant GM for four years — holds plenty of organizational say, Ryan is atop its front office hierarchy. The Bears disagree with the NFL’s ruling, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo.
Bears GM Ryan Poles confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin) the team spoke with the NFL about the matter, but the league did not rule in the team’s favor. Had this decision gone the Bears’ way, they would have received third-round picks in the 2026 and ’27 drafts.
Broncos To Re-Sign LB Alex Singleton
The Broncos will retain another member of their linebacking group ahead of the new league year. Alex Singleton has agreed to a two-year, $15.5MM pact, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports.
Singleton’s contract includes $11MM guaranteed, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. That figure includes a $3.75MM guarantee for 2027, giving Singleton a bit of security by forcing the Broncos to eat some dead money if a release occurs after 2026.
This represents a per-year raise for Singleton, who played out a three-year deal worth $18MM. After going 14-3, the Broncos are retaining much of their roster. Following the in-season extensions for Wil Lutz, Luke Wattenberg and Malcolm Roach, Denver has agreed to re-sign Singleton, Justin Strnad, J.K. Dobbins, Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins.
As Singleton’s fourth Broncos season wound down, the former CFL import received a testicular cancer diagnosis. That only ended up costing him one game, as the veteran underwent surgery and recovered during Denver’s bye week. Singleton also returned from an ACL tear, an injury that cost him most of 2024 and opened the door for Strnad to begin raising his stock.
Initially signed to a low-cost deal following the Eagles’ decision to non-tender him as an RFA, Singleton teamed with Josey Jewell in Denver. The Broncos let Jewell walk in 2024, having re-signed Singleton in 2023. The former Eagles starter played out that deal and has been a prolific tackler in Denver, helping Sean Payton craft a Broncos resurgence.
A former UDFA out of Montana State, Singleton has started 47 Broncos games. After 177- and 163-tackle seasons in 2022 and ’23, he came back with 135 in 16 games last season. Not an upper-crust option in coverage, Singleton has still been a key factor on back-to-back Vance Joseph top-three defenses. He came through with a key forced fumble in the divisional round, stalling some Bills momentum during a back-and-forth Broncos win.
This signing will change the Broncos’ LB setup, though perhaps not by too much. Denver cut Dre Greenlaw shortly after this deal surfaced. Greenlaw played in only eight games last season, battling multiple injuries after missing almost all of 2024 with the Achilles tear he suffered in Super Bowl LVIII. While the Broncos could add a younger option to develop behind Singleton and Strnad, the longtime team will entrust LB duties to holdovers familiar with DC Vance Joseph‘s system.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Broncos To Re-Sign RB J.K. Dobbins
Linked to both Kenneth Walker and Travis Etienne, the Broncos will instead bring back their primary 2025 starting running back. J.K. Dobbins is staying in Denver, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports.
Dobbins confirmed the news. He had expressed interest in re-signing at multiple points, and despite yet another season-sidetracking injury, the productive (when healthy) RB will be in line to team with RJ Harvey for a second season.
Despite one of the modern NFL’s most extensive injury histories, Dobbins created a market for himself during the healthy portion of his Broncos season. Denver is giving the seventh-year RB a two-year, $16MM deal that comes with $8MM guaranteed at signing, insider Jordan Schultz tweets. Due to his injury history, Dobbins has played for $1.61MM (Chargers) and $2.07MM (his first Denver deal). This represents a tremendous commitment by comparison, though the guarantee structure looks to give the Broncos an out after 2026.
Among the NFL’s top five leading rushers when he went down with a Lisfranc injury in November, Dobbins provided a boost to the Broncos’ rushing attack during the season’s first half. His 772 rushing yards still led the team despite the injury-prone vet missing the team’s final seven games. Denver did designate Dobbins for return, and he said following the Broncos’ AFC championship game loss that a Super Bowl return could have been in the cards.
A more instinctive runner than Harvey, Dobbins did better to maximize Denver’s top-tier offensive line. Pro Football Focus ranked the Broncos’ O-line first overall, but the team’s run game took a hit when Dobbins went down. Harvey’s dual-threat production notwithstanding, Dobbins was much better on the ground. While the former Ravens and Chargers starter averaged 5.0 yards per carry, injuries are his NFL legacy to date.
The six regular-season absences for Dobbins last year ran his count to a staggering 54 misses contest since arriving as a 2020 second-round pick. Dobbins has ACL and Achilles tears on his medical sheet, and he suffered an MCL sprain during his 2024 Chargers one-off. Dobbins, 27, has persevered and became a popular player in Denver.
It would stand to reason the Broncos would want a third back as insurance, but Sean Payton‘s team is unlikely to allocate much in the way of money or draft capital to that position thanks to this signing and Harvey’s second-round status. Denver nontendered Jaleel McLaughlin as an RFA but re-signed third-stringer Tyler Badie last week.
Denver was linked to Breece Hall, with a report indicating the Jets franchise-tagged him in part to prevent such a pursuit. Etienne and Walker also came up. It is worth wondering how genuine Broncos interest in the higher-profile backs was, because the team’s approach this week has been continuity-centric.
Broncos To Re-Sign QB Sam Ehlinger
The Broncos now have their three-man quarterback room from last season under contract. Sam Ehlinger agreed to terms late Sunday night to stay in Denver, veteran insider Jordan Schultz tweets.
Ehlinger, who spent time on Denver’s practice squad and active roster in 2025, is re-signing on a one-year deal worth $2MM. Ehlinger memorably turned down active-roster invites for a Broncos practice squad opportunity. Months later, the team is rewarding him with a raise.
Beginning his career as a Colts third-stringer/backup option, Ehlinger signed with the Broncos late last March. He did not make Denver’s active roster out of training camp but stayed via the practice squad invite. Receiving a few game checks as a P-squad callup, Ehlinger ended the season as Jarrett Stidham‘s backup for the AFC championship game. Bo Nix is expected to be ready for OTAs after his ankle fracture, and the Broncos will have Ehlinger on-hand for those workouts.
Stidham has come up in trade rumors, with teams believed to be asking about a player Sean Payton talked up before his big-stage opportunity. Stidham is tied to a two-year, $12MM deal signed just before free agency in 2025. Barring a trade, Stidham will return to his role as Nix’s backup. It would surprise if the Broncos dealt their fourth-year QB2, but Ehlinger is aboard in case the team considers it.
The Broncos have been busy keeping some role players off the market today, having agreed to terms to retain Adam Trautman and Justin Strnad. While those moves will ensure the tight end and linebacker are on the 2026 roster, Ehlinger may not be assured of such placement. The Broncos, barring a Stidham trade, would need to carry three quarterbacks. Nix’s injury (and the ensuing drama between he and Payton post-injury) could lead Denver to play it safe here, though the conference title game represents the 2024 first-rounder’s only missed NFL start.
The Colts gave Ehlinger three starts during Matt Ryan‘s one-and-done Indianapolis season (2022). Those are the Texas product’s only three starts in a five-year career. Ehlinger, 27, completed 63.4% of his throws that year, throwing three touchdown passes and three interceptions.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/8/26
We have some rare Sunday minor moves as the NFL closes in on the start of the new league year and the free agency frenzy that is sure to follow:
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: TE Nate Adkins
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: DT Naquan Jones
The Broncos continue to be proactive with pending RFA and ERFAs. Adkins was set to become a restricted free agent, but Denver has avoided that conclusion by re-signing him before the start of free agency.
Claimed last year in Houston, Jones is reportedly getting a one-year, $2MM deal to stay with the Texans, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Jones can earn another $500k on the new deal through incentives.
Broncos, TE Adam Trautman Agree To Deal
Hours after re-signing linebacker Justin Strnad, Denver has kept another pending free agent off the market. The Broncos and tight end Adam Trautman have agreed to a three-year, $17MM contract, Mike Klis of 9News reports. The deal comes with a max value of $18.5MM, according to Klis.
This positions Trautman to continue his long-running partnership with head coach Sean Payton. The two began working together when the Saints used a third-round pick on Trautman in 2020. Payton was their head coach through 2021. When Payton returned to the league as the Broncos’ head coach in 2023, he acquired Trautman in a deal that also included a late-round pick swap.
Trautman has never caught more than 27 passes or reached the 300-yard mark in a season, but he has earned Payton’s trust as a blocker. The 29-year-old has also been durable in Denver, where he has logged three consecutive 17-game seasons. Trautman caught 20 of 23 targets for 195 yards and a touchdown last year, during which he led Broncos tight ends in snap share (57.11%) and starts (12).
While Trautman will remain with the Broncos in 2026, the rest of their tight end group is up in the air. Depth options Nate Adkins, Marcedes Lewis and the non-tendered Lucas Krull are all unsigned. Meanwhile, Evan Engram did not produce as hoped in 2025, which could lead to his release. Even if Engram sticks around, Payton wants to add another receiving tight end this offseason.
2026 NFL Trades
The modern NFL features four clear trade windows. Early March, the draft, the late-August 53-man roster-setting date and the November deadline reside as the primary points trades occur around the league. As the NFL resides in window No. 1 for 2026, it is a good time to check in on what has already transpired on the market.
Excluding pick-for-pick trades, here are the moves NFL teams have made thus far in 2026:
February 26
- Titans trade DT T’Vondre Sweat to Jets for DE Jermaine Johnson
March 2
- Browns acquire OL Tytus Howard from Texans for No. 141
- Texans obtain RB David Montgomery from Lions for OL Juice Scruggs, No. 128, 2027 seventh-round pick
March 4
- Rams acquire CB Trent McDuffie from Chiefs for Nos. 29, 168, 210, 2027 third-round pick
March 5
- Bills acquire WR D.J. Moore, No. 165 from Bears in exchange for No. 60
March 6
- Bears acquire C Garrett Bradbury from Patriots for 2027 fifth-round pick
- Ravens to land OLB Maxx Crosby from Raiders for No. 14, 2027 first-round pick
Ravens nixed trade March 10, failing Crosby on a physical
March 7
- Packers add LB Zaire Franklin from Colts for DT Colby Wooden
March 8
- Raiders obtain CB Taron Johnson, No. 228 from Bills for No. 182
March 9
- Jets acquire S Minkah Fitzpatrick from Dolphins for No. 238
- Cowboys land OLB Rashan Gary from Packers for 2027 fourth-round pick
- Steelers add WR Michael Pittman Jr., No. 230 from Colts for No. 214
March 10
- Jets acquire QB Geno Smith, No. 228 from Raiders for No. 182
- Texans obtain P Kai Kroeger, 2028 seventh-round pick from Saints for 2028 sixth-rounder
March 11
- Titans add DL Solomon Thomas, No. 225 from Cowboys for No. 218
- 49ers acquire DT Osa Odighizuwa from Cowboys for No. 92
March 16
- Chiefs acquire QB Justin Fields from Jets for 2027 sixth-rounder
March 17
- Broncos land WR Jaylen Waddle, No. 111 from Dolphins for Nos. 30, 94, 130
March 18
- Eagles obtain QB Andy Dalton from Panthers for 2027 seventh-round pick
March 20
- Falcons acquire S Sydney Brown, Nos. 122, 215 from Eagles for Nos. 114, 197
April 7
- Texans land LB Marte Mapu, 2027 seventh-round pick from Patriots for 2027 sixth-rounder
April 10
- Eagles add WR Dontayvion Wicks from Packers for 2026 fifth-round pick, 2027 sixth-rounder
April 17
- Falcons, Jaguars swap DTs Ruke Orhorhoro, Maason Smith
April 18
- Bengals acquire DT Dexter Lawrence from Giants for No. 10
Broncos To Re-Sign LB Justin Strnad
The Broncos are keeping linebacker Justin Strnad off the open market. On the eve of the legal tampering period, Denver and Strnad have come to terms on a three-year, $18MM extension, as Scoop City‘s James Palmer reports. Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network says the deal can max out at $19.5MM and includes $10MM guaranteed at signing.
Strnad, a 2020 draftee who missed his entire rookie season due to a wrist injury, saw some action as a rotational defender in 2021 and even earned five starts. Over the 2022-23 seasons, however, he played exclusively on special teams.
That limited usage appeared as if it would lead him out of Denver in the 2024 offseason, but Strnad elected to return to the Broncos in a decision that paid dividends for both parties. As an injury replacement for Alex Singleton in ‘24, Strnad appeared in over half of the club’s defensive snaps and recorded 73 tackles, including eight TFLs and three sacks.
After another one-year deal kept him in place for 2025, Strnad was called upon to fill in for a different injured player, Dre Greenlaw. Strnad again played well, recording 58 tackles, five TFLs, 4.5 sacks, and the first interception of his career. Pro Football Focus considered him the league’s 24th-best ‘backer out of 74 qualified players.
That performance convinced Strnad he is a starting-caliber linebacker in the NFL, and as such, he was said to be seeking a multiyear deal and a starting opportunity. He acknowledged that such an opportunity may need to come from a team other than the Broncos if Denver were to re-sign Singleton, who is also out of contract.
The Strnad deal would therefore seem to suggest the club has made the choice to keep Strnad, 29, over the 32-year-old Singleton. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, that is not the case, as the Broncos are still working to retain Singleton. Greenlaw, who was recently named as a potential cap casualty, is not explicitly mentioned in Fowler’s report, but the ESPN scribe suggests Denver wants to keep all of its LBs together.
Whether that is a realistic outcome remains to be seen, but it is at least understandable. The Broncos, who have been active in extending their core players over the past several years, boasted one of the league’s top defenses in 2025 and nearly advanced to the Super Bowl. Although John Franklin-Myers appears to be on his way out, Denver has managed to keep an underrated cog in its front seven.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/7/26
Here are Saturday’s tender decisions:
RFAs
Non-tendered:
- Broncos: DL Matt Henningsen
- Chiefs: OL Mike Caliendo
Henningsen played a rotational role on defense in 2024 and ’25 for Denver. Caliendo, meanwhile, totaled 42 appearances and seven starts across three years in Kansas City. Both players are now on course to reach free agency next week unless they elect to re-sign with their respective teams in the immediate future.
FA Notes: Pierce, Pats, Walker, Seahawks, Etienne, Jags, Broncos, Chiefs, Robinson, Giants, Titans, Cowboys
Prepared to make Stefon Diggs a one-and-done, the Patriots continue to be linked to A.J. Brown. The Eagles standout could be the team’s No. 1 option at receiver, but if the defending AFC champions are unable to strike a deal, MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian indicates a pivot to Alec Pierce could be in the cards.
Ranked as PFR’s No. 2 overall free agent, Pierce’s market will be competitive. Guregian points to a $25-$30MM-per-year number being required to close that deal. Pierce is the league’s two-time reigning yards-per-catch leader, topping 1,000 yards last season despite the Colts losing Daniel Jones in Week 13. We heard earlier this week Pierce would land at least $20MM per year. The Colts prioritized Jones via the transition tag, putting them at risk of losing Pierce on Monday.
Had the Colts made an effort to lock down Pierce before last season, Essentiallysports.com’s Tony Pauline notes the view at the Combine was he would have cost maybe half the AAV he is expected to command next week. Not much extension buzz existed last summer; that could be costly for the Colts soon. Pierce is preparing to hit free agency; he can officially begin talking to interested teams at 11am CT Monday.
Here is the latest coming out of the free agent market:
- Kenneth Walker making it past the tag deadline unattached makes him the top RB option this year. The Super Bowl LX MVP should be able to land a deal in the $12-$16MM-AAV neighborhood, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. That would vault him into top-five territory at the position. The Giants have been tied to a Walker pursuit, with the Seahawks potentially ready to stand down after showing interest in retaining their four-year starter.
- If Walker scores a deal in that range, Breer estimates Travis Etienne winding up in the $10MM-per-year realm. The Jaguars are likely to let Etienne walk, with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones adding the team is prepared to move forward with 2025 fourth-rounder Bhayshul Tuten.
- The Broncos, who were set to pursue Breece Hall before his franchise tag, are a logical suitor for the longtime Jags starter, according to Jones. Walker could be on Denver’s radar as well, Jones adds, noting the Chiefs — who are believed to be interested in RB help (with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt unsigned) — are likely to be priced out of the Walker market. Kansas City does not believe Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love will be available at No. 9, per Jones, potentially pointing to an RB signing next week. Denver is looking for an RB to replace J.K. Dobbins alongside RJ Harvey, and it looks like the team is prepared to devote more resources to this position this offseason — with Russell Wilson finally off the books.
- Wan’Dale Robinson–Titans connections continue, but SNY’s Connor Hughes notes the Giants are still in on their homegrown slot receiver. That said, Tennessee is viewed as a very interested party for Robinson, whom Hughes pegs as more likely to leave New York than stay. A Nashville trek would reunite the 5-foot-8 WR with new Titans OC Brian Daboll. The Titans have been tied to a receiver pursuit for some time, as they are flush with cap space and expected to release Calvin Ridley. The Robinson market is expected to come in around $15MM per year, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan adds. With the Giants giving Darius Slayton a $12MM-AAV deal in 2025, how much will they be willing to spend here? Raanan views Robinson’s price tag as being a bit too steep for Big Blue.
- Two of Christian Parker‘s former charges may be on the Cowboys‘ radar. We heard Nakobe Dean‘s name connected to Dallas, which needs linebacker help, and the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins notes the team is in on the Eagles LB starter. The Cowboys are also interested in P.J. Locke, who has been an off-and-on starter at safety in Denver. Locke played under Parker previously, beginning as a starter under the new Dallas DC (after replacing Kareem Jackson in 2023).