Barring any future dips into unrestricted free agency, the Green Bay Packers will likely get a pair of mid-round compensatory picks in the 2021 draft in return for losing linebacker Blake Martinez and right tackle Bryan Bulaga during free agency.
According to Nick Korte of Over the Cap, the Packers are currently projected to receive a fourth-round compensatory pick for both Martinez, who agreed to sign with the New York Giants, and Bulaga, who agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Packers are also projected to receive a sixth-round pick for linebacker Kyler Fackrell, who also signed with the Giants.
The calculations and projections could change as new players are signed to big deals.
Despite signing linebacker Christian Kirksey and offensive tackle Rick Wagner, neither player counts against the Packers’ compensatory pick formula because both were released by their respective team.
The Packers can alter their formula by signing an unrestricted free agent or two over the next couple of days or weeks, but it’s looking increasingly unlikely that GM Brian Gutekunst will be able to sign a high-value free agent. More than likely, the Packers will dip into the second or third wave of free agency to add some veteran value to the roster.
The Packers haven’t received a compensatory pick since 2018. Each of the last two years, Gutekunst’s spending in free agency took the Packers out of the hunt for extra picks the following year.
So far, the Packers have essentially traded Martinez and Bulaga for Kirkey, Wagner and two mid-round picks in 2021, all while saving precious cap space in 2020. Will the trade-off work out on the field? Time will tell, but the Packers should benefit both financially and in draft capital.
