NFL Rumors: Compensatory Picks, Raiders, Redskins, & Vikings

Compensatory Picks

NFL agent Drew Rosenhaus said Friday on “The Joe Rose Show“ on WQAM in Miami he’s already spoken to the NFLPA about abolishing compensatory picks because it’s becoming so apparent that teams aren’t pursue free agent additions in order to obtain future draft picks.

“You know, the Dolphins brought in a ton of free agents,” Rosenhaus said, voa JoeBucsFan.com. “And I know people were frustrated when they saw, — we had a couple of clients come in like [linebacker] Sean Spence and Josh Robinson the cornerback, these are two local guys that signed elsewhere. One of the reasons the Dolphins aren’t signing these free agents, quite frankly, is because they are very mindful of the compensatory picks.

“So one of the things that I’ve said to the union is, ‘Can we get rid of the compensatory picks? Because it really does affect free agency. You know, if we’re going to have free agency, let’s do it where teams aren’t holding back because they want to collect on draft picks.’

“I literally had teams say to me, ‘Look, we’re not going to able to sign this guy because we’re mindful of where we are in the compensatory pick calculations. We don’t want to be upside down on that.’

“I will tell you that the Green Bay Packers, they won’t sign a free agent. Period. They’ll sign guys that were cut, that won’t count against the draft picks. They’re so mindful of getting extra picks.

“Now this doesn’t matter if you don’t lose guys [in free agency]. But you know the Dolphins have probably lost more [free agents] than anyone else this year other than the Denver Broncos. … That’s something I’m competing against now when I try to get our guys signed.”

Raiders

• Eddie Borsilli of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports that the Raiders won’t make an offer to Cardinals restricted free agent S Tony Jefferson and will instead focus on finding safety help in the draft.

Redskins

Rich Tandler of CSN Mid Atlantic writes that the Redskins have a number of reasons to not be big spenders in free agency this year.

• Washington has a number of players who will need to be addressed next year including: QB Kirk Cousins, WR Pierre Garçon, WR DeSean Jackson, DL Chris Baker, TE Jordan Reed, and OLB Junior Galette.
• Beyond that, OT Morgan Moses and CB Bashaud Breeland will be eligible for contract extensions.
• The team could have around $55 million in cap space to work with next year, according to Tandler.

Vikings

• According to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press, the Vikings will likely use an early round pick on a receiver in this year’s draft.
• Assuming that Minnesota doesn’t use a first-round pick on the position, Tomasson lists Pittsburgh’s Tyler Boyd, South Carolina’s Pharoh Cooper, Oklahoma’s Sterling Shepard, Ohio State’s Michael Thomas, Ohio State’s Braxton Miller and Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins as mid-round targets.