Lead by seven compensatory draft selections, the 49ers
INSANITY, California The San Francisco 49ers were expected to have just four selections in the 2023 NFL draft before the NFL announced their yearly compensatory picks.
Following the league’s Thursday announcement of the 37 more options, the Niners now have an astounding 11. Three additional third-round selections (Nos. 99, 101, and 102) are included in San Francisco’s seven compensatory selections as part of the league’s effort for clubs nurturing minority candidates who go on to become head coaches or general managers with other teams.
These selections followed the recent firings of general managers Martin Mayhew (Washington Commanders) and Ran Carthon (Tennessee Titans), as well as head coaches Robert Saleh (New York Jets), Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins), and DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans).
Compensatory choices are awarded to sixteen clubs.
On Thursday, a total of 37 compensatory selections for the NFL draft of 2023 were given out. An analysis by group:
In addition, the third-round compensatory picks for the departures of general managers Ryan Poles of the Chicago Bears and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of the Minnesota Vikings went to the Cleveland Browns (No.98) and Kansas City Chiefs (No. 100).
On Thursday, sixteen clubs were awarded compensatory choices, with the Niners being the first team selected. Each team that loses “more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year” will receive a compensation selection from the NFL, which is determined by a system that takes into account pay, playing time, and postseason awards.
The Los Angeles Rams and the Niners selected the maximum four additional picks permitted by the compensatory free agent system. The Rams and Niners have received the most compensatory choices for the second year in a row.
As for San Francisco, it lost defensive lineman D.J. Jones and Arden Key, guard Laken Tomlinson, cornerback K’Waun Williams, and running back Raheem Mostert in exchange for a net of four comp selections. Cornerback Charvarius Ward was signed in 2022 free agency.
These selections will be made in the sixth round (number 216), seventh round (numbers 253 and 255), and fifth round (number 173 overall). The 49ers have become less interested in recruiting outside free agents and have been unable to re-sign some of their own important free agents due to the large contracts that several of its best players earned.
Which is why, according to general manager John Lynch, the compensating formula has received increased attention.
At the NFL scouting combine, Lynch stated, “You have to have the patience and the vision to allow some of these guys to walk, get some comp picks as a result to kind of play that game.” “We tried to grasp that you can’t just go full speed, but it took us a little bit to figure that one out. And if you exercise a bit more discipline, you reap some benefits. Even though it’s never simple, it’s essential.”
The Rams have long followed this similar strategy, and they are once again in the upper half of the list in terms of compensatory picks obtained. In the wake of the losses of defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day, offensive lineman Austin Corbett, and edge rusher Von Miller, among others, they added three picks in the fifth round (Nos. 167, 171, and 177) and one in the seventh round (No. 251).
The 49ers and Rams were followed by the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys with three compensatory choices apiece. Arizona was the team with the highest selection, taking the No. 96 overall position in the third round, along with the No. 168, fifth, and sixth-round selections (No. 213). In 2022, Christian Kirk, a receiver, Chandler Jones, an edge rusher, and running back Chase Edmonds all left the Cardinals in free agency.
Following the loss of guard Brandon Scherff to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Washington Commanders, along with the 49ers, Chiefs, Browns, and Cardinals, received a third-round pick (No. 97).
Two compensatory picks were given to each of the Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Chiefs, Los Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, New York Giants, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers; the Vikings and New Orleans Saints received one pick each.
At the conclusion of the draft, the Bears and Texans were awarded additional selections. Houston now owns selection No. 259, which will be Mr. Irrelevant for this year.
Chicago Quarterback Justin Fields stated that he simply needed a vacation from social media this offseason, which is why he decided to unfollow the Chicago Bears on Instagram.
After it was revealed on Monday that the quarterback had stopped following the Bears on Instagram, Fields addressed the matter during an appearance on the “St. Brown Brothers” podcast. He also addressed his lack of support for both the NFL and the Bears.
“Why do people take social media so serious?” Fields stated. “I still play this and that with the Bears. I’m merely attempting to take a brief respite. I stopped following the NFL and the Bears. It’s not like I’m trying to fit football into my schedule.
“It is something I would prefer not to have on my timeline. I’m heading out on vacation soon. I would rather not watch any football. And what do you know? The conversation on social media is, “We want Fields, or we keep Fields.” Draft Caleb [Williams] is the option. I’m over listening to the chat. All I want is for it to end.”
With the first overall pick in the April draft, the Bears must make a crucial choice at quarterback. Fields, 24, recently finished his third season in Chicago. For months, there has been a heated debate about whether the Bears should keep Fields as their quarterback and develop around him or select a rookie quarterback with the first pick of the draft, with Williams of USC, who is widely regarded as the team’s best prospect, at the center of the conversation.
The Bears are exploring all of their possibilities at quarterback in 2024, according to general manager Ryan Poles. “I did believe Justin improved,” Poles declared in January. “He can lead this team, in my opinion. However, there is a special circumstance where I, along with our team, must look at everything, and that is precisely what we will do.
Fields reiterated his desire to play for the Bears when questioned if he wants to stay in Chicago by Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Yes, without a doubt. “I want to stay, of course,” Fields declared. “I don’t think I could play somewhere else. However, I would prefer to remain in Chicago if it were up to me. I adore the city. It’s illuminated in the city. Both the people and the fans are fantastic. It’s an enterprise. I have no control over anything; whatever transpires transpires. The main thing I think about everything that’s going on right now is that I simply want it to stop. Simply inform me of any changes to my status, such as being traded or staying, and so forth.”
Georgia native Fields was also questioned about his feelings toward the Atlanta Falcons, a team that has been linked to the Bears quarterback as a potential trade target and will also have to make a quarterback decision this offseason.
Fields remarked, “Atlanta would be tough.” “The only drawback to returning home is that everyone keeps ringing my phone incessantly asking for game tickets. However, I believe that their team is full with playmakers, including my buddy Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, and, of course, Drake London. They might need one more receiver, but they have a solid group there, and they played strong defense this year as well.”
