2012 NFL Compensatory Picks: Full List and Analysis

The National Football League released its list of the 32 compensatory picks awarded in the 2012 NFL draft on Monday, and here's a quick rundown of both who got which picks and what they could mean for the NFL clubs that get an extra swipe or two at the pinata this April.

These picks are garnered from the NFL's official press release, along with this explanation of how the awarding of supplemental picks is broken down.

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Under the rules for compensatory draft selections, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks.

The number of picks a team receives equals the net loss of compensatory free agents up to a maximum of four. The 32 compensatory choices announced today will supplement the 221 choices in the seven rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft (April 26-28), which will kick off in primetime for the third consecutive year.

This year, the compensatory picks will be positioned within the third through seventh rounds based on the value of the compensatory free agents lost.

Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. The formula was developed by the NFL Management Council. Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula.

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Now that we've cleared that up, on with the picks!

Atlanta Falcons (1): Seventh round (249th overall)

The Falcons got as good as they gave in free agency last year after signing defensive end Ray Edwards to a big contract, so this pick, while late in the draft, is the equivalent of found money for the Falcons.

Baltimore Ravens (2): Fourth round (130th overall), Fifth Round (169th overall)

Baltimore was able to compensate for the loss of safety Dawan Landry and cornerback Josh Wilson fairly easily last year, and these picks will allow to the Ravens to add depth along the offensive front and at wide receiver, two large areas of need for the team.

Buffalo Bills (1): Seventh round (251st overall)

The loss of linebacker Paul Posluszny to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency last year sure seemed like a big deal at the time, but the awarding of a relatively meaningless pick to the Bills would appear to indicate that the league's formula doesn't agree.

Carolina Panthers (1): Sixth round (207th overall)

Cornerback Richard Marshall and quarterback Matt Moore both made significant contributions to their new teams in 2011, so the Panthers were likely hoping for a better haul, but an extra sixth-rounder will at least allow Carolina a little added flexibility in taking a late-draft flier.

Cleveland Browns (4): Sixth round (204th, 205th overall), seventh round (245th, 247th overall)

The Browns have more holes in their roster than possibly any other team in the National Football League, but after receiving four compensatory selections, the Browns now have a staggering 13 picks in the 2012 draft with which to fill them.

Dallas Cowboys (1): Fourth round (135th overall)

Not only was Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder kind enough to take defensive end Stephen Bowen off Dallas's hands with a gaudy five-year, $27.5 million contract in 2011, but the Cowboys also now receive an extra fourth-round pick that can be used to upgrade a Dallas secondary that was shredded by opposing quarterbacks last year.

Green Bay Packers (4): Fourth round (132nd, 133rd overall), seventh round (241st, 243rd overall)

The losses of defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins and offensive lineman Daryn Colledge last season were a significant blow, but Green Bay still managed to go 15-1 last year, and those extra fourth-rounders will be of assistance to the Packers in upgrading a defense that ranked dead last in the NFL in 2011.

Indianapolis Colts (3): Fifth round (170th overall), sixth round (206th overall), seventh round (253rd overall)

The Colts get three additional draft picks with which to begin the extensive rebuild now underway in Indianapolis, including a seventh-round "freebie" awarded by the NFL to get the number of compensatory picks to the mandated 32.

Minnesota Vikings (2): Fourth round (128th, 134th overall)

Both Ray Edwards and wide receiver Sidney Rice were duds with their new teams in 2011, and now the Vikings get an extra pair of fourth-rounders to use on badly-needed upgrades for the offensive line and defense.

New York Giants (1): Fourth round (131st overall)

Not only do the Giants net an extra fourth-round pick that could be used for depth up front on offense or a backup running back, but two of the free agents they lost last season, tight end Kevin Boss and wideout Steve Smith (the other one), aren't even on the teams they signed with in 2011 anymore.

New York Jets (4): Sixth round (202nd, 203rd overall), seventh round (242nd, 244th overall)

The loss of wide receiver Braylon Edwards, defensive end Shaun Ellis and receiver Brad Smith didn't net the Jets much more than a handful of late-round speculative picks, but with the exception of Smith, it's not like the Jets lost much, either.

Oakland Raiders (3): Third round (95th overall), fourth round (129th overall), fifth round (168th overall)

Winner winner chicken dinner! There's likely no bigger victor in the 2012 supplemental sweepstakes than the Oakland Raiders, who didn't have a pick in the first four rounds of this year's draft and now have a real chance to improve their squad in April.

Pittsburgh Steelers (3): Seventh round (240th, 246th, 248th overall)

The Steelers didn't receive much in return for the loss of tight end Matt Spaeth and defensive tackle Nick Eason, but at least this trio of late picks will allow Pittsburgh to take a gamble on some seventh-round sleeper specials.

San Diego Chargers (1): Seventh round (250th overall)

Had the Chargers not signed linebackers Takeo Spikes and Travis Laboy, this pick almost certainly would have been much higher, but the 250th pick isn't going to do much to erase the sting of seeing running back Darren Sproles tear up the field in New Orleans last year.

St. Louis Rams (1): Seventh round (252nd overall)

Any time you don't have to give up anything and get an extra pick in return as the Rams did with this "freebie" it's best not to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially when you have as many holes to fill as St. Louis does.

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