When the Miami Dolphins decided to sign backup quarterback Zach Wilson, it looked like a questionable but fine bet. He is still a young player, with the talent that allowed him to be the second overall pick in the draft four years ago. And outside of his $6 million salary, there was no downside or real risk involved.
However, there has been an extra consequence. Because the Dolphins signed Wilson as an unrestricted free agent, he’s canceling out a fourth-round compensatory pick that Miami would receive for losing safety Jevon Holland to the New York Giants.
The compensatory pick system was created by the NFL to add 32 picks to teams that lost more free agents than they signed, and those extra picks are distributed from the end of the third through the seventh round.
The main criteria is salary. The bigger the yearly average of the contract, the better the comp pick is. There’s also some value to snaps played and postseason honors.
Only players that are true unrestricted free agents count—players released from their old contracts and restricted/exclusive-rights free agents who are not tendered don’t count towards the formula.
How the Miami Dolphins’ comp pick situation is
Of all players the Dolphins lost in free agency this offseason so far, only two received big enough contracts to qualify for the compensatory pick formula: Safety Jevon Holland ($15.1 million) and guard Robert Jones ($3.75 million). If the Dolphins hadn’t signed any unrestricted free agent, that would mean receiving a fourth- and a seventh-round pick in 2026.
However, the team signed Zach Wilson ($6 million) and guard James Daniels ($8 million). Daniels will be a starter offensive lineman, so it’s certainly worth it to cancel out a seventh-round pick.
But the decision to sign Zach Wilson, even if his salary is lower, is canceling out the fourth-rounder the Dolphins would get. It’s a costly decision, especially for a team that needs as many draft picks as possible based on its salary cap outlook.
It can still work out ok
The Dolphins still have some unrestricted free agents available on the market. If they are signed over the next few weeks to big enough contracts, the Dolphins can still receive that fourth-rounder. The deadline is the Monday right after the draft—after that, every player still available becomes a street free agent.
The most likely candidate is interior defensive lineman Calais Campbell, who might still sign a good contract elsewhere.
Other options are edge defender Emmanuel Ogbah, linebacker Duke Riley, left tackle Kendall Lamm, safety Jordan Poyer, offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn, running back Jeff Wilson, linebacker Cam Brown, wide receiver River Carcraft, long snapper Jake McQuaide, quarterback Tyler Huntley, and edge defender Tyus Bowser.
Cornerback Kendall Fuller and running back Raheem Mostert don’t count because they were cut, while wide receivers Anthony Schwartz (RFA) and Grant DuBose (ERFA) are not eligible.
Braxton Berrios, Jack Stoll, Anthony Walker Jr., Da’Shawn Hand, and Siran Neal didn’t make enough money elsewhere to qualify. At the same time, the additions of Larry Borom, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ashtyn Davis, KJ Britt, Alexander Mattison, and Artie Burns won’t affect the formula.
The compensatory pick formula might be a complicated system for a regular fan, but teams should absolutely take it into consideration when making offseason moves. And if signing Zach Wilson may cost them a fourth-rounder, that would undoubtedly be a bad process.
