We got our last piece of the draft puzzle Friday when the NFL, using a formula they refuse to release, awarded teams compensatory draft picks based on players they lost in free agency. And I’m not kidding about the NFL keeping the process a secret. They do and no one can explain why.
Regardless of that, compensatory picks are worth a little more this year since teams can finally trade them. Before the 2017 draft they couldn’t and, again, the reasons for that are anyone’s guess.
Here’s what teams hauled in:
Third Round
Dolphins: 33rd pick, 97th overall
Panthers: 34th pick,98th overall
Ravens: 35th pick, 99th overall
Rams: 36th pick, 100th overall
Broncos: 37th pick, 101st overall
Seahawks: 38th pick, 102nd overall
Browns: 39th pick, 103rd overall
Chiefs: 40th pick, 104th overall
Steelers: 41st pick, 105th overall
Seahawks: 42nd pick, 106th overall
Jets: 43rd pick, 107th overall
Fourth Round
Bengals: 32nd pick, 138th overall
Browns: 33rd pick, 139th overall
Rams: 35th pick, 141st overall
Browns: 36th pick, 142nd overall
49ers: 37th pick, 143rd overall
Colts: 38th pick, 144th overall
Fifth Round
Bengals: 33rd pick, 178th overall
Broncos: 34th pick, 179th overall
Dolphins: 35th pick, 180th overall
Cardinals: 36th pick, 181st overall
Chiefs: 37th pick, 182nd overall
Browns: 38th pick, 183rd overall
Packers: 39th pick, 184th overall
Patriots: 40th pick, 185th overall
Dolphins: 41st pick, 186th overall
Sixth Round
Chiefs: 33rd pick, 218th overall
Bengals: 34th pick, 219th overall
Chiefs: 35th pick, 220th overall
Seventh Round
Bengals: 33rd pick, 253rd overall
Broncos: 34th pick, 254th overall
Broncos: 35th pick, 255th overall
There are two real things to take away from this list and they both concern the Cleveland Browns. The first is that teams are awarded compensatory picks based on the free agents they’ve lost to other teams. The Browns got four compensatory picks, so that means that they lost at least four quality free agents to get them. How could the Browns have that many good players other teams would want and still be so shitty?
Second, with those four extra picks the Browns now have 12 draft picks in the 2017 NFL Draft. They have two No. 1s, two No. 2s, two No. 3s, two fours, three fives and a sixth. How can the Browns screw up a draft where they have that many picks, especially six in the first three rounds? I’m sure they’ll find a way.
Chiefs sign C.J. Spiller
C.J. Spiller has been an NFL enigma for years and now he’ll get the chance to again confuse a depth chart after the Kansas City Chiefs signed him to a new contract. Details haven’t been disclosed, but it’s likely just a one-year deal.
Chiefs announce they've signed former first-round RB CJ Spiller.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 24, 2017
Spiller was a former first round pick for the Buffalo Bills in 2010 and rushed for 1,244 yards and six touchdowns in 2012. He nearly hit the 1,000 yard mark again the next season, picking up 933 yards and averaging 4.3 yards per carry in 2013. An injury in 2015 ended his stint with the Bills and last year Spiller bounced around on four different teams and only saw action in six games, two for the Seattle Seahawks and four for the New York Jets.
Signing Spiller could spell the end of Jamaal Charles’ time in Kansas City. Charles saw action in three games last season and never really came back after a knee injury he suffered in 2015. In the meantime, the Chiefs got plenty of production at the running back position from Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West, so Charles, and his $6.187 million cap hit in 2017 are probably expendable.
49ers add Earl Mitchell to defensive line
Earl Mitchell wasn’t out of work for long. The former defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers Friday, who signed him to a four-year, $16 million deal.
DT Earl Mitchell to the Niners on a four-year deal worth $16m with $5.5m in year one, source says.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 25, 2017
Mitchell spent the last two seasons in Miami, but didn’t record a single sack in that span. He’s always been more of a run support player, but his 17 total tackles certainly weren’t worth the $4 million the Dolphins would have paid him this season. Obviously the 49ers are hoping Mitchell will revert to his 2013-2014 seasons where he routinely hit 30 plus tackles and multiple sacks for the Houston Texans.
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