Team receives four compensatory draft picks from the NFL, including “Mr. Irrelevant”

The Broncos were awarded four compensatory picks by the league, giving them a total of 10 for the 2017 draft, including “Mr. Irrelevant,” at No. 253.

In addition to their own six selections, the Broncos gained a third-round (No. 101), fifth-round (177) and two seventh-round (252 and 253) picks.

The extra picks are awarded to teams who lost more or better free agents than they gained in the previous season. The Broncos lost safety David Bruton, tight end Vernon Davis, offensive linemen Ryan Harris and Evan Mathis, linebacker Danny Trevathan, defensive lineman Malik Jackson and quarterback Brock Osweiler, and signed defensive lineman Jared Crick and tackles Russell Okung and Donald Stephenson.

The Broncos are one of four teams of the 16 awarded compensatory picks this year to be given as many as four picks. No team over the last three drafts have been awarded as many as Denver (11).

The Broncos were given three compensatory picks in 2016, for the free-agent losses of tight end Julius Thomas, offensive tackle Orlando Franklin and defensive tackle Terrance Knighton. That trio landed their future safety corps, in Justin Simmons (third round, No 98) and Will Parks (sixth, 219), and their leading rusher, in Devontae Booker (fourth, 136).

And in 2015, the Broncos were awarded four compensatory picks, two of which were used on Max Garcia (fourth, 133) and quarterback Trevor Siemian (seventh, 250), both starters last season.

This year is the first in which compensatory picks, all of which are slotted in rounds 3-7, can be traded.

The extra selections arm the Broncos with many options to go with their large salary-cap cushion, in order to revamp the roster. The defensive line has already undergone rebuilding, with the addition of defensive lineman Bobby Richardson on Friday.

The team declined to engage Okung’s contract option, putting them in the market for a left tackle.