Steelers receive 4th-round compensatory pick in next month’s draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers were given an extra draft pick Tuesday when the NFL announced its list of compensatory picks distributed to teams based off each team’s defections and signings during 2021 unrestricted free agency.

The Steelers were given the first of six picks doled out at the end of the fourth round, No. 138 overall.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, compensatory draft picks are awarded based off a complicated formula that reflects teams that lose more or better players in free agency. Thirty-two draft picks were distributed this way, and the NFL also announced seven other picks awarded to teams from whom a minority employee was hired away by another club as its head coach or general manager.

Last year’s unrestricted free-agency cycle had the Steelers lose Bud Dupree, Matt Feiler and Mike Hilton and gain Joe Haeg and Ahkello Witherspoon (the latter of which was acquired via a September trade).

The highest pick awarded Tuesday was to the Detroit Lions at No. 97 overall. The compensatory picks extend to the final pick of the draft, No. 262 overall by the San Francisco 49ers.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams each received an NFL-most four compensatory picks; 17 teams did not receive any extra picks. Among the Steelers’ AFC North rivals, the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals were shut out while the Baltimore Ravens were given a pair of fourth-round picks via the free-agency formula in addition to a third-rounder via the minority hiring initiative.

Cleveland also was given the 99^th pick because the Minnesota Vikings hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah – who is Black – out of the Browns’ front office to serve as their general manager.

The Steelers have been given 35 compensatory picks over the 29 drafts since free agency was instituted in 1994. Only six teams have had more, led by Baltimore’s 55.

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