NFL.com projects Chiefs to receive 2020 fourth-round compensatory pick

The NFL’s compensatory-pick deadline passed on Tuesday of this week. From here on out, any player signed for the 2019 season will no longer count in the NFL’s method of calculation for determining compensatory draft picks for the 2020 NFL Draft.

So with the compensatory-period signings locked in, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein made pick projections for each team on Thursday. Based upon the Chiefs’ signings and players lost, Zierlein projects the Chiefs to receive an additional fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Projected compensatory pick: Round 4.

Key free-agent losses: Mitch Morse (Bills); Steven Nelson (Steelers); Chris Conley (Jaguars).

Key free-agent additions: Tyrann Mathieu (Texans); Alex Okafor (Saints).

Comp-pick analysis: The Chiefs lost five qualifiers and gained four, with Mitch Morse and Tyrann Mathieu as the top free agents from each column who will cancel each other out. While this pick could end up being a fifth-rounder, a fourth-round comp pick is still the favorite to head Kansas City’s way following the departure of cornerback Steven Nelson.

NFL Draft picks are officially awarded some time in February. This past year, the Chiefs received a sixth-round compensatory selection. As friend-of-the-site Brandon Kiley of 610 Sports Radio noted, the Chiefs let Steve Nelson walk, gained a fourth-rounder and brought in Bashaud Breeland—who shouldn’t cost them anything when it comes to compensatory picks—to replace him.

If Zierlein is correct, here is how the Chiefs’ picks look for 2020:

2020 NFL Draft picks

• First-rounder
• Second-rounder (San Francisco 49ers’ pick or own selection; whichever pick is in a worse position goes to the Seattle Seahawks)
• Third-rounder
• Fourth-rounder
• Fourth-round compensatory
• Fifth-rounder
• Sixth-rounder

If you’re wondering, the Chiefs traded their seventh-rounder for safety Jordan Lucas. Even now, I’d say they won that trade.