The 2016 NFL Draft is a little over a month and a half away, and it sounds like we will find out compensatory picks sooner rather than later. The picks are normally announced at the annual spring owners' meetings March 20-23, but Jason LaCanfora is reporting the NFL will notify teams on Friday, a few weeks early.
NFL expected to notify teams of awarded comp picks tomorrow. Few weeks earlier than in years past. And now they can be traded! Buckle up!
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 11, 2016
First off, let's ignore his comment about comp picks being tradeable. They are not going to be tradeable until next year.
The San Francisco 49ers are expected to get as many as four comp picks in the 2016 NFL Draft. Over The Cap put together projections, and they have the 49ers getting a fourth for Chris Culliver's departure, a fifth for Perrish Cox's departure, and a pair of sixths for the departures of Frank Gore and Dan Skuta . This is not set in stone, but it seems likely.
There is no word yet on if the teams or league will in turn announce the picks to the public, but if teams find out today, information will at least leak at some point. It really doesn't matter a whole lot right now since the picks are not tradeable, but it is interesting information to know.
Speaking of comp picks, the 49ers are currently ahead on the 2017 comp pick formula. Alex Boone signed with the Minnesota Vikings, and Thaddeus Lewis is unlikely to be a qualified signing for the 49ers. Right now, OTC projects the 49ers to get a fourth round comp pick for Boone. This will change as more free agent signings happen.