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The NFL announced its list of 37 compensatory picks for the 2021 draft Wednesday, the Dallas Cowboys leading the way with four extra selections. The Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers each picked up three additional selections.
The league awards compensatory picks based on a formula where "a team losing more or better compensatory free agents (CFA) than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks. ... Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors."
Five of this year's compensatory selections were awarded to teams who contributed to minority hirings within the league. Per the NFL, "five special compensatory selections were awarded to four clubs: the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans Saints under a recent amendment to the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement ... to promote equal employment opportunities and an inclusive workforce within NFL clubs.
© Robert Deutsch,USA TODAY SportsThe Dallas Cowboys will have four extra picks in the 2021 NFL draft.
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"This initiative provides that the prior employer-club of a minority employee who has been hired by another club as its head coach or primary football executive (general manager) will receive compensation in the form of a special compensatory draft selection in the third round of each of the next two drafts, or in each of the next three drafts if two minority employees from the employer-club are hired for these positions by another club or clubs."
Below is the full list of 2021 compensatory picks (numbers indicate overall selection):
Third round
96. New England
97. Los Angeles Chargers
98. New Orleans
99. Dallas
100. Tennessee
101. Los Angeles Rams
*102. San Francisco
*103. San Francisco
*104. Los Angeles Rams
*105. Baltimore
*106. New Orleans
Fourth round
139. Dallas
140. New England
141. Pittsburgh
142. Los Angeles Rams
143. Green Bay
144. Minnesota
145. Kansas City
Fifth round
178. Green Bay
179. Dallas
180. Atlanta
181. San Francisco
182. Kansas City
183. Atlanta
184. Baltimore
Sixth round
217. Tampa Bay
218. New Orleans
219. Atlanta
220. Green Bay
221. Chicago
222. Carolina
223. Minnesota
224. Philadelphia
225. Philadelphia
226. Carolina
227. Dallas
228. Chicago
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL announces 2021 compensatory draft selections with Dallas Cowboys earning a league-high four