The NFL officially awarded four extra selections to the draft’s hosts.

The league on Monday announced its list of compensatory selections for the April 23-25 draft to be held in Pittsburgh, and no team was given more than the Steelers. The Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles joined the Steelers with four.

Handed out between the ends of the third and seventh rounds per a formula in regards to the previous offseason’s player movement in unrestricted free agency, the Steelers were awarded one pick each in the third and fourth rounds and two in the sixth round.

The selections will fall at No. 99, No. 135, No. 214 and No. 216 overall.

The announcement of the compensatory picks came the same day as 2026 free agency opened in earnest with the start of the so-called “legal tampering period.” The formula in awarding them has existed since free agency began more than 30 years ago, but while it previously was shrouded in mystery, nowadays teams and media are typically well aware of what picks teams will get long before the league formally releases them.

As such, that the Steelers have four extra picks was no surprise. The Steelers also have an extra third-round choice, from the Dallas Cowboys as the result of the George Pickens trade. They sit with 12 selections in the seven-round draft.

The Steelers and Eagles are the only two teams to get extra 2026 picks in the third and fourth rounds. Only 15 of the NFL’s 32 teams received any compensatory picks, and only four were given more than two.

The Steelers took advantage of having two quarterbacks — the highest-salaried position — leave their team and sign as starters elsewhere last spring: Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. Also lost in 2025 free agency were starters at tackle (Dan Moore Jr.), guard (James Daniels), running back (Najee Harris), cornerback (Donte Jackson) and inside linebacker (Elandon Roberts).

The Steelers’ three qualifying UFAs signed were lower-profile: cornerback Brandin Echols, inside linebacker Malik Harrison and quarterback Mason Rudolph.

Per the collective bargaining agreement, teams are assigned a net gain or loss in free agency via a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. Not all free-agent signings qualify.

The Steelers have been awarded 39 compensatory picks over the 32 drafts since the system was implemented. That ranks as eighth-most in the NFL but well behind all-time leader Baltimore’s 64.

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