After a brief mishap due to an error in the distribution of the NFL’s compensatory picks, the 49ers officially know they will receive two compensatory picks in the 2021 draft NFL draft.
The NFL officially announced compensatory picks on Wednesday. San Francisco awarded the pair they were expected to get – one third pick for Robert Saleh, who was appointed as the Jets ‘head coach, and one fifth round as compensation for Emmanuel Sanders’ free agency.
Teams can be put together in different ways with choices. When free agents leave, there is a formula that determines whether the team will get a choice for the player.
The other way is through the new adjustments to the Rooney rule, which give teams compensatory choices if they have a coach or front office member as head coach or general manager. When a team of minority coaches has their staff appointed as head coaches, they are given two third-round picks spread over two years. If they have a minority office member who is appointed as a GM, they get one choice.
In San Francisco, both scenarios were played out this season after Saleh was appointed by the Jets and vice president of player staff, Martin Mayhew, was appointed as the Washington Football Team’s GM. This is where the confusion seems to stem from the NFL’s initial list of appearances given the 49ers two third-round picks.
Instead, they will get one this year and next year one for Saleh who is appointed, and then another in 2023 for Mayhew’s lease.
The NFL corrected the mistake and the 49ers officially made the overall choice of no. 102 and given the overall choice of the number 180. San Francisco is now set to introduce the concept with 10 choices.