Ever since the NFL started doling out compensatory draft picks for lost free agents in 1994, teams haven’t been allowed to trade them. However, according to a Thursday afternoon report by Adam Schefter of ESPN that could change starting in 2016.
According to Schefter, the league is expected to allow teams to begin trading compensatory draft picks starting in 2016 and that in turn could lead to even more draft day trades as a result.
When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers, they are expected to receive one compensatory selection in the 2016 NFL Draft for their loss of cornerback Brice McCain this past offseason.
McCain, who signed a two year, $5.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent during the offseason, has played a total of 353 defensive snaps so far this season. While we aren’t entirely sure what round compensation he will bring to the Steelers, it will be surprising if it results in a pick higher than the fifth round.
If the Steelers do receive a fifth-round compensatory draft pick for the loss of McCain, that will help replace the conditional 2016 fifth-round selection they traded away to the Philadelphia Eagles in early August for cornerback Brandon Boykin.
