The San Francisco 49ers ended up with four compensatory picks in this past draft after losing one as part of last year's trade to move up to the No. 3 overall pick. Surprisingly, the 49ers didn't trade any of the others—or any of their nine total selections heading into the draft.
According to draft analyst Lance Zierlein, San Francisco could end up with four again in 2023. Compensatory picks are awarded to teams when their offseason losses from the previous offseason outweigh the offseason gains. The bonus picks come in rounds three through seven.
"The 49ers will receive the second of two third-rounders awarded for Mike McDaniel being hired as Dolphins head coach this offseason," wrote Zierlein, "and the third of three third-rounders awarded for losing both Robert Saleh (Jets head coach) and Martin Mayhew (Commanders GM) in 2021. They will also take home a fifth for [D.J.] Jones and a likely seventh-round pick for [Arden] Key, provided he makes the Jaguars -- which is very likely. The departure of [Laken] Tomlinson and addition of [Charvarius] Ward cancel each other out in terms of compensatory-pick eligibility."
What did the 49ers do with their compensatory picks in 2022? In the third round, the team drafted wide receiver Danny Gray. Then, in the sixth round, it selected defensive tackle Kalia Davis and cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields, and quarterback Brock Purdy in the seventh.
The four compensatory picks Zierlein projects to the 49ers in 2023 are tied with the Los Angeles Rams for the most among all NFL teams.