49ers lead way with seven compensatory draft picks

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Before the NFL made their annual announcement of compensatory picks for the 2023 NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers were slated to have just four selections.

After the league unveiled those 37 additional choices Thursday afternoon, the Niners now have a whopping 11. San Francisco's seven compensatory selections include three extra third-round picks (Nos. 99, 101 and 102) as part of the league's initiative for organizations developing minority candidates who become head coaches or general managers with other teams.

Those picks came following the departures of head coaches Robert Saleh (New York Jets), Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins) and DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans), as well as general managers Martin Mayhew (Washington Commanders) and Ran Carthon (Tennessee Titans) in recent years.

A total of 37 compensatory selections for the 2023 NFL draft were awarded Thursday. A breakdown by team:

The Cleveland Browns (No. 98) and Kansas City Chiefs (No. 100) also received third-round compensatory picks for the departures of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (Minnesota Vikings general manager) and Ryan Poles (Chicago Bears general manager), respectively.

Sixteen teams received compensatory picks on Thursday, with the Niners leading the way. The NFL uses a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors to award compensatory picks to each team that loses «more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year.»

The Niners and Los Angeles Rams picked up the maximum allowable four additional picks under the compensatory free agent formula. It's the second straight year the Rams and Niners have gained the most compensatory picks.

In San Francisco's case, it added cornerback Charvarius Ward in 2022