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The NFL isn't expected to hand out compensatory picks for the 2014 NFL Draft until next month, but Philly.com's Jimmy Kempski has released his annual compensatory pick projections, as provided by Craig Turner. This year, the Detroit Lions are projected to get one compensatory selection, and it's projected to be in the fourth round.
You can read about what goes into determining compensatory picks over at Philly.com, but the gist of it is this: Detroit lost free agents Cliff Avril, Sammie Hill and Justin Durant last year, but those losses were canceled out by the Lions signing Glover Quin, Reggie Bush and Jason Jones. The Lions' loss of Gosder Cherilus to the Indianapolis Colts was not canceled out by any signings, so the Lions are set to get one compensatory pick this year.
Based on a variety of factors, the Lions' 2014 compensatory pick is expected to be a fourth-rounder. The Lions also got a fourth-round compensatory pick last year (for the loss of Eric Wright), and they got a seventh-rounder for losing Drew Stanton.
If the Lions do indeed receive a fourth-round compensatory pick this year, they will have a pair of picks in that round. This would help make up for the loss of their fifth-round pick, which was traded away to the Jacksonville Jaguars for wide receiver Mike Thomas.
