Detroit Lions not projected to receive any 2019 compensatory draft picks

If you’re hoping the Detroit Lions will pick up an extra compensatory pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, I’ve got some bad news for you. Over The Cap released their compensatory pick projections for the draft, and the Lions do not appear on track to receive any additional picks.

Compensatory picks are awarded to teams that lost significant players in the previous year’s free agency session. Compensatory picks vary from Round 3 to Round 7 and are awarded based on a formula that takes into consideration players added in free agency, players lost, contract values and playing time.

Here’s a look at some of the notable players the Lions lost and gained through the 2018 free agency period.

Gained: RB LeGarrette Blount, G Kenny Wiggins, TE Luke Willson, LB Devon Kennard, LB Christian Jones, DB DeShawn Shead, DT Sylvester Williams,

Lost: C Travis Swanson, TE Darren Fells, DT Haloti Ngata, LB Brandon Copeland, LB Tahir Whitehead, S Don Carey

Note: The Lions don’t receive any consideration for a compensatory pick for losing Eric Ebron, since he was released.

While the Lions did lose some significant pieces in Haloti Ngata and Tahir Whitehead, not enough of those sendoffs made an impact on their new teams. Meanwhile, Kenny Wiggins, LeGarrette Blount, Devon Kennard, Christian Jones and Luke Willson all had plenty of playing time in Detroit.

Originally, the Lions were projected to earn a fifth-round pick due to losing DJ Hayden—who signed a big three-year, $19 million deal with the Jaguars. However, as mentioned back by Over The Cap back in May, that could have been offset if either Don Carey or Travis Swanson were cut by their new teams. Carey was, indeed, cut after suffering a preseason injury.

So without any additional compensatory picks likely, here’s a look at the picks the Lions will likely have come April.

• Round 1, Pick 8
• Round 2
• Round 3 (from Eagles—Golden Tate trade)
• Round 4
• Round 5 (either the one they acquired from Laken Tomlinson trade with 49ers or their original one—whichever they didn’t trade to Giants for Damon Harrison Sr.)
• Round 6
• Round 6 (from Patriots—Johnson Bademosi trade)
• Round 7
• Round 7 (from Dolphins—Akeem Spence trade)