Chargers awarded one compensatory pick for 2018 NFL Draft

The Los Angeles Chargers have been awarded one compensatory pick for 2018.

The NFL announced that the Chargers were one of 15 teams to earn a compensatory draft pick for the 2018 NFL Draft. The Chargers have been awarded an additional seventh-round pick (251st overall).

According to NFL rules, if a team loses more or better free agents than it acquires in the previous year, that team is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks. The Chargers only signed two outside free agents in 2017: Left tackle Russell Okung and running back Kenjon Barner; free safety Tre Boston was picked up after the Panthers released him following the 2017 draft. Barner was released prior to the regular season.

So in the Chargers’ case, they lost running back Danny Woodhead and linebacker Manti Te’o and gained Okung. Because of that, they were eligible to earn an extra pick.

Here is an overview of how the NFL awarded compensatory draft picks today to 15 teams: pic.twitter.com/jsnrYjG7p5

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 23, 2018

Prior to 2018, the Chargers have had five compensatory draft picks since 2010: A fifth-rounder in 2016, a seventh-rounder in 2012, a sixth-rounder and seventh-rounder in 2011 and a fifth-rounder in 2010. Those picks turned into LB Jatavis Brown, RB Edwin Baker, OL Stephen Schilling, LB Andrew Gachkar and QB Jonathan Crompton.

The Chargers now have seven draft picks in 2018, including one in each round. They originally had six selections prior to getting a compensatory pick after giving up a seventh-rounder to acquire QB Cardale Jones from the Bills last July. The former fourth-round pick has two years left on his rookie contract. The Chargers traded receiver Dontrelle Inman, who is now an unrestricted free agent, to the Bears midway through the season in exchange for a conditional seventh-rounder, but Chicago retained the pick due to Inman’s lack of production.