Packers Calendar: Draft Pick Compensation for Free Agents Changes June 2

No longer will unsigned players like Jermichael Finley, Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly count in the draft pick formula starting Monday.

The June 1 deadline has passed. Starting Monday, no longer do free agents count in the compensatory draft pick formula for NFL teams, a stipulation in the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement.

With so many free agents whose contracts expired in 2014, the Green Bay Packers are perhaps impacted by the June 1 deadline more than any team in the league.

Attention is on tight end Jermichael Finley more than any player now that he has been medically cleared by his doctor and apparently receiving interest from at least one other team.

Potential suitors have been playing a waiting game with Finley because of his sensitive neck injury, but it also made sense that if they waited this long to sign him, they'd do so after June 1.

With a compensation formula awarding teams draft picks for more free agents lost than signed, the Packers will no longer receive a draft pick if Finley happens to agree to a contract with another team. And by the same token, no longer will Finley negatively impact the fomula for any team with whom he signs.

It remains to be seen how much teams will be willing to accept the risk of Finley putting his health and well-being on the line should he play again.

And even if a team clears him, it also remains to to be seen how much of a financial investment they'll be willing to make into Finley, considering his uncertain future.

One possibility that still exists is the Packers signing Finley to a one-year, prove-it type of contract that would pay him a modest amount of money before giving him the opportunity to hit free agency again next season.

Other free agents on the open market that no longer count in the draft pick compensation formula starting Tuesday include defensive linemen Johnny Jolly and Ryan Pickett, linebacker Rob Francois, quarterback Seneca Wallace and running back Khalil Bell.

NFL Categories: 
0 points
 

Comments (3)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Evan's picture

June 02, 2014 at 07:52 am

I saw yesterday that Seattle is no longer interested in him.

0 points
0
0
L's picture

June 02, 2014 at 11:14 am

Here are some players besides the available Packer players who may garner some initial interest from several teams:

All-Pro DT Kevin Williams

4-time Pro Bowl CB Asante Samuel

Former Super Bowl MVP WR Santonio Holmes

Injury-risk TE Dustin Keller

CB Dunta Robinson

Ex-Pro Bowl OG Davin Joseph

I guess we'll see who gets snagged up by who.

0 points
0
0
Evan's picture

June 02, 2014 at 11:31 am

Joseph signed with the Rams a couple weeks ago.

0 points
0
0