Sometime next week the NFL will announce the compensatory picks for all 32 NFL teams.

Packers Lost (4): Evan Dietrich-Smith, James Jones, Marshall Newhouse, CJ Wilson
Packers Gained (0): None

While having little to zero knowledge of this process I am going to guess the Packers get a 7th for Dietrich-Smith and a 5th for James Jones. Those are both best case scenarios. I'm not even sure if this factors into it, but Dietrich-Smith wasn't even drafted as he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and eventually being cut only to be signed again in 2011 with the Packers.

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Just a 5th for Jones? He was drafted higher (2nd or 3rd?) and he had a fairly successful tenure with the Packers. Isn't that what determines it - not how he did with his new team?

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It mostly goes by the contract they get.

Projecting the Compensatory Draft Picks for 2015 

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Yeah from what I've read most think it's mainly by the dollar amount per year of the new contract. With a lot of mini factors said to include some game played factor (ie how many games did they play / started) and awards ... such as probowl and other awards...

I've been thinking two 6th round picks for Dietrich-Smith and Jones... and didn't think Newhouse or Wilson signed for enough to get a pick.

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Those picks really are awesome. Think about Tramon Williams. Picked up off the waiver wire, played NINE seasons and started 99 games for the team. When he turns 32 years old he signs with the Browns and the Packers might get a 3rd or 4th [EDIT 4th or 5th] round draft pick out of the deal. Not too shabby.

Same way with House. Drafted in the 4th round (with a compensatory pick!), started 14 games over 4 seasons. Based on his contract Packers should get a 4th or 5th round compensatory pick to replace him with.

Matt Flynn was drafted in the 7th and did about as well as a backup QB could in his first stint with the team. Having him start that meaningless game against the Lions and run up all those yards and points to drive up his FA value was a stroke of genius. I think they got a 4th round compensatory pick out of that deal.

Losing aging players in free agency ain't all bad. Especially when other teams are lined up to pay crazy money to aging players.

[EDIT - I should have added this to the thread already going on compensatory picks. Maybe Zero can move it?]

I think the Packers will get two 4th round picks for Williams and House assuming they don't sign an outside FA (that wasn't cut) to upset and/or lower that. I'm also guessing the Packers get two 6th for Dietrich-Smith and James Jones this year.

Flynn's contract got the Packers a 5th round pick (Josh Boyd).

Thompson Comp pick history
2006: 5th: OL Tony Moll
2006: 7th: DE Dave Tollefson (played 6 years in the NFL)
2007: 7th: TE/LS Clark Harris (still playing Long Snapper for the Bengals)
2008: 4th: OG Josh Sitton
2010: 5th: OT Marshall Newhouse
2011: 4th: CB Davon House
2012: 4th: DL Mike Daniels
2012: 4th: S Jerron McMillian
2012: 7th: OT Andrew Datko
2012: 7th: QB B. J. Coleman
2013: 5th: DL Josh Boyd
2014: 3rd: TE Richard Rodgers
2014: 5th: Jared Abbrederis

I know it doesn't work like this... but based on history... Ted Thompson, if you get a 4th round comp pick, please check out the linemen options

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That's right... 5th rounder. They lost Flynn and Scott Wells, signed Jeff Saturday (what an unpleasant surprise THAT was.)

That is the other thing to remember when eyeing other team's free agents. Signing Saturday probably cost us another 5th round draft pick or whatever value would have been assigned to Scott Wells. In that case we would have been better off with the draft pick.

I guess signing someone who has been cut doesn't figure in at all.. The Peppers signing doesn't affect us or the Bears in any way when it comes to compensatory picks. Same way with AJ Hawk this year.

I would hope that compensatory picks wouldn't factor too highly in Teds decision to let someone go or to sign other teams players. Either you think the guy can help your team or you don't.

I'd hate to think he was sitting there thinking "I really think Suh could help our team and I think we could fit him in cap wise but I'm not going to sign him because it might cost a that 4th round compensatory pick."

I don't think that is why he didn't sign suh.

But I do think those draft picks enter in to his decision to pursue a UFA or not. "Would I trade a (3rd,4th,5th) round draft pick for this guy?" Because that's what you would be doing.