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I agree with PSU. It is a nice way to keep the NFL scales in balance. Yes, it wouldn't be smart to let these free agents go just for the compensatory picks, but it is another example of how the NFL is run so much better than other professional sports, and rewards teams with a lower budget. But then, on the other hand, if your team may gett awarded a late pick in the third round, say about 95th overall, you may have to look and evaluate which free agents that, if they were on another team, you would still trade the 95th pick with. It wouldn't be equal with a guy like Adalius Thomas, but i would say that there are quite a few free agents that these teams let go that are probably not worth a late third round pick when you consider that team's needs, salary cap and depth chart. It is very benefical, especially for teams like Baltimore this year who get four extra picks, but no, for high value free agents like Thomas, a team is not getting its value with a late third round pick. Now, perhaps with four picks, the Ravens felt like it would be the best thing. If Thomas had stayed, he'd have wanted Ray Lewis type cash. The Ravens were not dying for a linebacker, like the Patriots were(and still are), and he would have probably wanted a longer contract and more garunteed money. This way, the Ravens save a bunch of cap room and because they were not going make the playoffs in 2007, and will probably miss them again in 08, they can use the four picks and spread out the money they would have owed Thomas over those picks and other players. So, I think to say that the compensatory picks complete compensate the teams would be not entirely true, but they do help. But again, the NFL isn't trying to give each team a value in draft picks equal to what they lost in the free agent market.
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