Patriots Rewarded 4th Round Compensatory Draft Pick
BOSTON (CBS) -- The New England Patriots were awarded an extra draft pick on Monday.
The Patriots received a fourth-round compensatory pick as compensation for free agents lost last season, when Patrick Chung, Donald Thomas, Wes Welker and Danny Woodhead all left via free agency.
The pick, the final selection in the fourth round and 140th overall, cannot be traded by New England.
Getting an extra fourth round pick is a bit of a surprise, as compensatory picks usually come in the sixth or seventh round. While late-round picks don't sound like much, it's worth noting that Patriots used a compensatory pick on quarterback Tom Brady back in 2000.
New England now owns eight draft picks in the upcoming draft:
- First round, 29th overall
- Second round
- Third round
- Fourth round
- Fourth round (compensatory)
- Sixth round (from Eagles)
- Sixth round
- Seventh round
The Patriots sent their fifth-round pick in the draft to the Philadelphia Eagles as part of last October's Isaac Sopoaga trade.
The NFL Draft will be held from May 8-10 in New York City.
MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON