What is the Compensatory Formula?

Explaining the NFL's Compensatory Pick Process and how it affects the Chiefs

Before we started to gain clarity on the contract statuses of Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed, I would see comments and conversations around the kind of draft capital the Chiefs would receive via the compensatory formula for losing one or both of their star defensive players.

“Just get a compensatory third round pick for Sneed/Jones next year,” was a common phrase thrown around as if losing one of these players would ensure the Chiefs a top 100 (or near top 100) selection in the 2025 Draft.

While that certainly could be true, if the Chiefs were to rescind the Franchise tag from Sneed and let him walk in free agency unabated, there’s no guarantee that the Chiefs would get anything in return for him.