Packers awarded four compensatory picks

GREEN BAY - In his first draft, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst will have a nice haul of extra picks at his disposal.

The Packers were awarded four compensatory picks Friday in the 2018 draft: a fourth-round pick (No. 133 overall), two fifth-round picks (Nos. 172 and 174) and a sixth-round pick (No. 207).

In all, the Packers’ 12 draft picks will be their most since 2006, Ted Thompson’s second year as general manager.

The compensatory picks were gained through the NFL’s compensation formula for players departing via free agency the previous year. The Packers lost guard T.J. Lang, running back Eddie Lacy, safety Micah Hyde, center JC Tretter, tight end Jared Cook and edge rushers Julius Peppers and Datone Jones during free agency last off-season.

A total of 32 compensatory draft choices were awarded to 15 teams, the league announced. The NFL uses a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors to determine how to compensate teams that lose free agents.

According to the NFL, the Packers’ only free agent “gained” last year was guard Jahri Evans. Tight end Martellus Bennett didn’t factor into the formula because he was released after playing in only six games for Green Bay.

The Packers were one of four teams that received four picks (along with Cincinnati, Dallas and Oakland). Arizona and Houston each will receive three picks and Minnesota will get two. Teams have the option of using compensatory draft picks in trades as the result of a rule change instituted before last year’s draft.

In addition to their original seven draft picks and the four compensatory ones, the Packers also will have a seventh-round pick obtained from Buffalo in a 2016 trade for linebacker Lerentee McCray.