GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Ted Thompson should be a happy man.
The Green Bay Packers general manager was awarded two additional draft picks on Friday, when the NFL announced the compensatory selections for next month’s draft.
The Packers received a pair of fourth-round picks -- Nos. 131 and 137 overall -- as part of the league’s formula for compensating teams for net losses in free agency. A total of 33 additional picks were given to 13 teams this year.
The Packers got their picks for losing cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Davon House in free agency last year. They did not sign any unrestricted free agents in 2015. (Note: A player like Julius Peppers, who was signed in 2014, does not count in the formula because he was cut by the Bears and therefore is considered a street free agent and not an unrestricted one).
Since the NFL instituted the compensatory pick program in 1994, the Packers have received 37 additional picks. That’s tied with the Dallas Cowboys for the second most behind the Baltimore Ravens (47).
Compensatory picks cannot be traded, but that will change in 2017.
This is the third straight year that Thompson was given two additional picks. Last year, he used them on defensive lineman Christian Ringo and tight end Kennard Backman -- both sixth-round picks. In 2014, he used them to take tight end Richard Rodgers (third round) and receiver Jared Abbrederis (fifth round).
Among Thompson’s best compensatory picks were guard Josh Sitton (fourth round, 2008) and defensive end Mike Daniels (fourth round, 2012).
The Packers will go into the April 28-30 draft with nine picks, including their original selection in all seven rounds.
