Los Angeles Rams projected to receive three compensatory draft picks in 2019 NFL Draft

Per OverTheCap, the Los Angeles Rams are projected to receive three compensatory draft picks in the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Rams are projected to receive third-round picks for WR Sammy Watkins who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and CB Trumaine Johnson who signed with the New York Jets. They’re also projected to receive a seventh-round pick for the loss of S Cody Davis who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The last player — who is projected to just miss out on netting the Rams another comp pick — is TE Derek Carrier.

One thing to keep in mind is that these comp picks factor into the Rams’ trade with the Jaguars for OLB Dante Fowler Jr. If the Rams receive multiple third-round comp picks, the earliest one would go to the Jags along with their natural fifth-round selection.

There was some concern that a foot injury to Watkins could limit his playing time to such a degree that the Rams might not get a third-rounder back, but these projections thankfully put those concerns mostly to rest.

The Rams have been among the best teams in using the comp pick formula to restock their draft kennel; the only team projected to get more than three comp picks is the New England Patriots. As for the rest of the NFC West, there’s not a ton to mull over. The Arizona Cardinals are projected to get three picks, but none earlier than the sixth round. The San Francisco 49ers are also projected for a single late Day 3 pick. And the Seattle Seahawks aren’t expected to receive any.

So until we get the comp picks officially awarded next month, we’re still on track to send our natural third-round pick along with that natural fifth-rounder to the Jags meaning our draft order looks like this:

Should we get these three comp picks, we’ll get our natural third-round pick back, send our earliest third-round comp pick to the Jags, and add a comp pick in the third and one in the seventh to look like this:

Not bad.

And for what it’s worth, here is the list of the Rams’ 2019 free agents and what it might mean for comp picks for the 2020 NFL Draft:

Depending on which of those candidates exit via free agency and what kind of deals they get, the Rams might be in line for a similar haul in a year’s time.

As for now, it looks like two third and a seventh are headed our way this year.