If Matt Forte leaves, will the Bears receive a compensatory pick in the draft?

If Matt Forte leaves in free agency, will the Bears receive a compensatory pick in the 2016 draft?? If so, which round? – Bill R., Chicago

While it is possible the Bears could (notice I said could, not will) receive a compensatory draft pick in the event Forte leaves via free agency, it would not come until 2017. Compensatory draft picks are awarded each year after a determination of each teams’ net gains/losses in free agency are compiled. The NFL awards 32 compensatory picks each year, essentially adding an extra round to the draft. Basically, teams losing more or better free agents are eligible to receive compensatory picks up to a maximum of four. That’s why I don’t expect the Bears to receive any compensatory picks in the 2016 draft. They added some unrestricted free agents, certainly more than they lost. If Forte exits via free agency and the Bears sign a player or two to significant contracts in free agency, it would become a wash. In order to rack up compensatory picks, you’ve got to do very little in free agency or lose a lot of your own players while signing guys to small deals.

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