The NFL announced the compensatory selections for the 2026 NFL Draft on Monday, awarding the New Orleans Saints an extra fourth round pick, No. 136 overall. Thirty-three compensatory picks were awarded league wide.
The Saints currently hold eight selections in the draft, headlined by the eighth pick in the first round.
The Saints were awarded the selection due to free agent cornerback Paulson Adebo signing with the New York Giants in the 2025 offseason.
The Saints have utilized pick no. 136 twice before in franchise history selecting tackle Dave Hubbard in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL Draft and wide receiver Mercury Hayes in the fifth round of the 1997 NFL Draft.
The NFL can award up to 32 "compensatory free agent" picks, which allow clubs that have lost free agents to another team to use the draft to try to fill the void. The awarded picks take place at the end of the third through seventh round.
Compensatory free agents are determined by a proprietary formula, developed by the NFL Management Council, which considers a player's salary, playing time and postseason honors.
The value of the compensatory free agents gained or lost by each team is totaled, and a team is awarded picks of equal value to the net loss of compensatory free agents, up to a maximum of four.
Teams that have had a minority employee hired as a head coach or primary football executive by another club also receive special compensatory picks, which were instituted as an amendment to the 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement in an effort to promote equal employment opportunities within NFL teams.
Check out photos from the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, March 1, 2026, ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (22) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Arizona State offensive lineman Max Iheanachor (29) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (22) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Arizona State offensive lineman Max Iheanachor (29) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (22) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (22) participates in the vertical jump during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling (24) participates in the broad jump during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Texas A&M offensive lineman Chase Bisontis (05) participates in the vertical jump during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (22) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling (24) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling (24) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (20) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling (24) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Arizona State offensive lineman Max Iheanachor (29) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (20) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Texas A&M offensive lineman Chase Bisontis (05) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Arizona State offensive lineman Max Iheanachor (29) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Georgia Tech offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge (44) during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Utah offensive lineman Caleb Lomu (33) during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Texas A&M offensive lineman Ar'maj Reed-Adams (42) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Utah offensive lineman Caleb Lomu (33) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Texas A&M offensive lineman Ar'maj Reed-Adams (42) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Oregon offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon (40) runs the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Georgia Tech offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge (44) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Texas A&M offensive lineman Ar'maj Reed-Adams (42) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Utah offensive lineman Caleb Lomu (33) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Oregon offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon (40) participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
