2021 NFL Draft: Houston Texans Projected To Get Shut Out Of Compensatory Picks

I wrote an article yesterday about the Houston Texans’ 2021 draft haul. In that article, I mentioned that the Texans could possibly receive a compensatory pick in return for losing D.J. Reader. It seems that thought may have been premature.

Per Lance Zierlein with the NFL, Houston is projected to not receive any compensatory picks for 2021.

While Houston lost Reader in free agency, it seems that the team brought in enough free agents to offset that loss. Players like Randall Cobb, Eric Murray, Jaylen Watkins, and Brent Qvale all contribute to the formula for distributing compensatory picks.

Last night, Johnathan Joseph signed a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans. Yes, it happened again. Another team legend signed with a bitter division rival. However, the timing of J-Jo’s deal adds some more salt to the wound.

Similar to McDonald’s Big Mac sauce or KFC’s herbs and spices, the compensatory pick formula is a mysterious recipe that only the league truly knows. However, insiders have been able to get a pretty good idea of what that formula is over the years. One of the conditions of this formula is that players must be signed BEFORE April 27th to count for purpose of the compensatory equation. As of this writing, it is April 29th, so Joseph signing elsewhere doesn’t help the Texans in their quest to get extra picks for the 2021 NFL Draft. It’s unknown how much J-Jo’s signing would have mattered in getting the team a pick, but it might have helped.

Again, this is based off a projection. The league will officially review each team’s situation and allocate picks after the 2020 season. The current projection show the Cowboys receiving four picks; the Packers, Patriots, and Falcons getting three; the Saints, Rams, Vikings, Steelers, Chiefs, Eagles, and Bears adding two; and the Chargers, Titans, 49ers, Buccaneers, and Ravens awarded one additional draft selection.

How do you feel about the prospect of the Texans not receiving any compensatory picks? If we did get any, what round would they be in?