The league handed out compensatory draft picks today according to PFT and the Vikings didn’t receive any. The compensatory draft picks are given to teams to make up for free agents lost during the previous offseason. The formula used is actually one of the best kept secrets in the NFL, but it can be summed up by saying that the contracts signed by players who left your team during free agency and the contracts you hand out to free agents play a major role in the formula.

For example, the Patriots have been awarded three compensatory picks (I know, the rich just keep getting richer) after losing Asante Samuel, Randall Gay, and Donte Stallworth to free agency last offseason.

With the Vikings having lost Matt Birk and Darren Sharper this year, then perhaps they will be awarded a couple of picks next year. Especially since they’ve not signed any real big free agent contracts this year.

The full list of compensatory picks can be viewed here . One last note: compensatory picks are not allowed to be traded under any circumstances.