The NFL has finalized the compensatory picks for the 2026 NFL Draft — and one of them is tied to a Super Bowl champion quarterback.

Vikings Receive Comp Pick for Sam Darnold as NFL Announces 2026 Draft Additions

The NFL officially announced 33 compensatory draft picks for the 2026 NFL Draft, which will take place April 23–25 in Pittsburgh.

One of the most notable selections went to the Minnesota Vikings, who received a third-round compensatory pick (No. 97 overall) after losing quarterback Sam Darnold to the Seattle Seahawks in free agency last offseason.

Compensation for Losing a Super Bowl QB

Darnold’s departure proved costly for Minnesota.

After leaving the Vikings, he helped lead the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory, making his free-agency move one of the most impactful of the 2025 offseason.

While Minnesota may regret letting him walk, the third-round pick offers some compensation for the loss.

Seahawks Get No Compensatory Picks

Despite gaining a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, the Seattle Seahawks did not receive any compensatory picks in this year’s draft.

Compensatory picks are awarded when teams lose more or higher-value free agents than they sign, based on a formula that considers:

Player salary
Playing time
Postseason honors

Seattle’s offseason activity meant they did not qualify for any extra selections.

Teams With the Most Comp Picks

Several franchises benefited heavily from the compensatory system this year.

Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh each received four compensatory picks, the highest total among NFL teams.

Other teams awarded multiple selections include:

San Francisco 49ers – three picks
Dallas Cowboys – two picks
Denver Broncos – two picks
Indianapolis Colts – two picks
Las Vegas Raiders – two picks
Los Angeles Rams – two picks
New York Jets – two picks

Third-Round Comp Picks Awarded

Only three third-round compensatory picks were given this year:

No. 97 – Minnesota Vikings (for losing Sam Darnold)
No. 98 – Philadelphia Eagles (for losing DT Milton Williams)
No. 99 – Pittsburgh Steelers (for losing OT Dan Moore)

Another notable compensatory selection went to Detroit, which received a third-round pick (No. 100) after defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was hired as head coach of the New York Jets.

However, that pick has already been traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ravens Continue Historic Comp Pick Run

The Baltimore Ravens extended their dominance in the compensatory system.

Since the program began in 1994, Baltimore has received a league-leading 64 compensatory picks, showcasing the organization’s long-standing strategy of balancing free-agent losses and signings.

Draft Weekend Approaches

With the compensatory selections finalized, the full draft order is now complete.

All 32 teams now know exactly where they will pick when the NFL Draft kicks off in Pittsburgh later this spring.

And for Minnesota, the extra third-round pick offers at least a small reward for losing the quarterback who helped deliver a championship somewhere else.