The Detroit Lions will have an extra fifth-round pick to play with in April's NFL draft.
The NFL awarded 33 compensatory draft picks on Monday, March 9, including the last pick of the fifth round (No. 181 overall) to the Lions for the free agent departure last year of offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes said last spring that the NFL's compensatory formula, which rewards teams for net free agent losses, is "always on the top of mind during free agency."
"We talk about that every year," Holmes said on Day 2 of last year's draft. "When do you stop spending over a certain amount, and in terms of what you’re going to be losing? So, we strategically go over that every year just to see what we can possibly come up with and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s something that’s always on the top of mind during free agency.”
The Lions were awarded two compensatory picks for 2026, but already included one – a third-rounder for losing defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets – in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year to move up and draft Isaac TeSlaa.
The Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers got four compensatory picks this year and the San Francisco 49ers received three. The Minnesota Vikings were awarded the highest compensatory choice. No. 97 overall in the third round, for the loss of quarterback Sam Darnold.
The Lions have nine picks in this year's draft, including extra choices in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds but no choices in Round 3. They received their extra fourth-round choice in the David Montgomery trade with the Houston Texans last week.
So far in free agency this year, they've agreed to deals with two linemen – Cade Mays and Larry Borom – and lost two defensive starters (Alex Anzalone and Amik Robertson).
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
