The Green Bay Packers are on track to receive two compensatory draft picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. These picks, however, are projected to be late in the seventh round, which diminishes their potential impact on the team’s roster. According to Nick Korte of OverTheCap.com, the Packers will acquire these picks as a result of losing center Josh Myers to the New York Jets and linebacker Eric Wilson to the Minnesota Vikings.
While the addition of these picks may seem beneficial, the circumstances surrounding them carry significant implications. The selection tied to Wilson is particularly precarious, as it could end up being the last pick of the entire draft, a designation popularly known as “Mr. Irrelevant.” This term has been in use since 1976 and refers to the very last player selected in the NFL Draft.
Compensatory picks are determined by a formula that weighs the average annual salary of the players lost against those signed. The NFL grants these picks to teams that lose more valuable free agents than they acquire. Last offseason, the Packers experienced notable free-agent departures, losing four players, including defensive tackle T.J. Slaton, who signed a two-year contract worth $14.1 million with the Cincinnati Bengals. Other departures included cornerback Eric Stokes to the Las Vegas Raiders, who secured a one-year, $4 million contract, and Myers, who joined the Jets on a one-year deal valued at $3 million. Wilson’s contract with the Vikings was for $2.75 million on a one-year basis.
The Packers’ ability to earn compensatory picks was complicated by their own signings. Slaton’s potential sixth-round pick was effectively neutralized by the acquisition of guard Aaron Banks, who signed a four-year contract worth $77 million. This also means that the San Francisco 49ers are projected to receive a fourth-round pick as a result. Similarly, Wilson’s potential seventh-round compensation was offset by the Packers signing cornerback Nate Hobbs.
Currently, the Packers do not hold a first-round pick in the 2026 draft, a situation resulting from a trade involving linebacker Micah Parsons. As it stands, the team has eight selections in the upcoming draft. Historically, the Packers have been significant beneficiaries of compensatory picks. From 1994 through 2025, they have acquired a total of 53 compensatory picks, ranking third in the NFL behind the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys.
Despite their previous successes, recent outcomes from compensatory selections have been less promising, particularly in the seventh round. The last seventh-round compensatory pick to make a notable impact for the Packers was Scott Wells in 2004. Notable selections from earlier rounds include Zach Tom, who was a fourth-round pick, along with other successful fourth-round choices such as Josh Sitton and Mike Daniels.
As the Packers look ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft, they may be poised to receive additional compensatory picks. The team has several key unrestricted free agents this offseason, including left tackle Rasheed Walker, quarterback Malik Willis, and receiver Romeo Doubs. With salary-cap constraints potentially limiting their activity in free agency, the Packers could secure the maximum of four compensatory picks and possibly gain third-round choices for Walker and Willis.
The concept of “Mr. Irrelevant” has gained a unique cultural significance over the decades. The Packers have made this pick twice, selecting Norman Jefferson in 1987 and Ronnie McAda in 1997. Jefferson, a defensive back from LSU, played 14 games with the Packers but never became a standout. McAda, a quarterback from Army, famously remarked, “I had no idea what was going on,” upon being named Mr. Irrelevant.
As the NFL landscape continues to evolve, the Packers’ draft strategy will be closely watched, particularly in relation to their compensatory picks and the potential for future growth.
