Don’t expect the Colts to get any compensatory picks next year

Last offseason, the compensatory pick process played a role in Ryan Grigson’s thinking when it came to free agency, and as a result the Colts have an extra fourth round pick in this year’s draft.

But don’t expect the same thing for the Colts next year. In fact, don’t expect any compensatory picks for the Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Though the compensatory pick formula has never been announced, Over the Cap does a very good job of projecting them, and they have a compensatory pick cancellation chart updated as free agent moves come in.

As it currently stands, the Colts have lost only one unrestricted free agent who would qualify for the compensatory pick formula, and that’s safety Mike Adams, who signed with the Panthers. He might have netted the Colts an additional seventh round pick next year, but that’s easily cancelled out by the players the Colts signed. Jabaal Sheard (fourth round), John Simon (sixth round), Sean Spence (sixth round), Kamar Aiken (seventh round), Barkevious Mingo (seventh round), Margus Hunt (seventh round), Jeff Locke (seventh round), and Brian Schwenke (seventh round) are the players Indy has signed who would qualify in the compensatory formula. For the purposes of the cancellation chart, the loss of Adams was cancelled out by the signing of Aiken.

Along those lines, however, is the fact that other teams will be getting compensation for the Colts’ free agent signings. Currently in OTC’s projection, the Patriots would receive a fourth round pick for the loss of Jabaal Sheard, the Texans would receive a sixth round pick for the loss of John Simon, and the Bengals would receive a seventh round pick for the loss of Margus Hunt.

Of course, the Colts not in line to get compensatory picks isn’t neccessarily a bad thing, as long as the free agent signings work out. While Chris Ballard would obviously love to have as many draft picks as possible, he’s also trying to infuse talent into a team that badly needed it. That’s going to involve both free agency and the draft. So it’s not a surprise nor a reason for criticism that the Colts aren’t likely to wind up with any compensatory picks, but it’s worth noting nonetheless.