NFL announces 2021 compensatory draft selections with Dallas Cowboys earning a league-high four

The NFL announced its list of 37 compensatory picks for the 2021 draft Wednesday, the Dallas Cowboys leading the way with four extra selections. The Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers each picked up three additional selections.

The league awards compensatory picks based on a formula where "a team losing more or better compensatory free agents (CFA) than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks. … Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors."

Five of this year's compensatory selections were awarded to teams who contributed to minority hirings within the league. Per the NFL, "five special compensatory selections were awarded to four clubs: the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans Saints under a recent amendment to the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement … to promote equal employment opportunities and an inclusive workforce within NFL clubs.

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"This initiative provides that the prior employer-club of a minority employee who has been hired by another club as its head coach or primary football executive (general manager) will receive compensation in the form of a special compensatory draft selection in the third round of each of the next two drafts, or in each of the next three drafts if two minority employees from the employer-club are hired for these positions by another club or clubs."

Below is the full list of 2021 compensatory picks (numbers indicate overall selection):

Third round

96. New England

97. Los Angeles Chargers

98. New Orleans

99. Dallas

100. Tennessee

101. Los Angeles Rams

*102. San Francisco

*103. San Francisco

*104. Los Angeles Rams

*105. Baltimore

*106. New Orleans

Fourth round

139. Dallas

140. New England

141. Pittsburgh

142. Los Angeles Rams

143. Green Bay

144. Minnesota

145. Kansas City

Fifth round

178. Green Bay

179. Dallas

180. Atlanta

181. San Francisco

182. Kansas City

183. Atlanta

184. Baltimore

Sixth round

217. Tampa Bay

218. New Orleans

219. Atlanta

220. Green Bay

221. Chicago

222. Carolina

223. Minnesota

224. Philadelphia

225. Philadelphia

226. Carolina

227. Dallas

228. Chicago

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.

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