36 compensatory draft picks awarded to 17 teams

The Dallas Cowboys were awarded the maximum four compensatory picks in April’s NFL draft, and the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers will each get three. The league announced Wednesday that there will be 32 such picks this year. Carolina, Chicago, Kansas City, the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans and Philadelphia each get two. Baltimore, the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Tampa Bay and Tennessee will each get one. The league is also is giving four special compensatory selections to four teams — the 49ers (two), Rams, Ravens and Saints — for promoting equal employment opportunities and an inclusive workforce.

■ Bills: Wide receiver John Brown and defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson were released.

■ Broncos: Running back Melvin Gordon likely will avoid NFL discipline after his drunken driving charge was dismissed and he pleaded guilty in Denver County Court to lesser charges of excessive speeding and reckless driving. ■ Giants: New York released starting guard Kevin Zeitler. The 31-year-old was scheduled to make $12 million and have a cap hit of $14.2 million in 2021.

■ Panthers: Carolina restructured the contracts of running back Christian Mccaffrey and linebacker Shaq Thompson, freeing up more than $11 million in salary-cap space.

■ Saints: New Orleans informed receiver Emmanuel Sanders and linebacker Kwon Alexander they’ll be released, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

■ Titans: Tennessee cut two starters from their secondary, with safety Kenny Vaccaro joining cornerback Malcolm Butler as salary-cap casualties. The team announced the cuts Wednesday with the moves hitting the NFL waiver wire.

■ Texans: Houston hired Lovie Smith as defensive coordinator. The 62-yearold also will hold the title of associate head coach.

■ Vikings: Minnesota terminated the contract of left tackle Riley Reiff with one year left on it.