CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Cleveland Browns were awarded the first of two compensatory picks from the Vikings hire of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as general manager Tuesday.
Cleveland will receive the 35th pick in the third round of this year’s draft No. 99 overall, the league announced along with the remaining compensatory selections for the 2022 NFL Draft to be held in Las Vegas this April.
The Browns will receive a second third-round selection next year as well under a 2020 amendment to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement “to promote equal employment opportunities and an inclusive workforce within NFL clubs.”
The Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers (two special compensatory selections), Kansas City Chiefs, and Los Angeles Rams also received special compensatory picks.
The initiative “provides that the prior employer-club of a minority employee who has been hired by another club as its head coach or primary football executive (general manager) will receive compensation in the form of a special compensatory draft selection in the third round of each of the next two drafts, or in each of the next three drafts if two minority employees from the employer-club are hired for these positions by another club or clubs.”
Special compensatory selections are awarded in draft selection order after all other compensatory selections in round three.
A total of 32 compensatory picks were awarded using the NFL’s net loss free agent formula with the Rams and Chargers each receiving the maximum of four compensatory picks. Arizona, Detroit and San Francisco received three. Two picks went to Baltimore, Dallas, Green Bay, Indianapolis and Tennessee while Atlanta, Kansas City, New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay received 1 additional selection.
