Free NFL Analytics Platform — A Directory of Our Hubs
StickToTheModel is a free NFL analytics platform organized around a few core hubs. Each hub is the home for a specific category of NFL coverage — pick the one that matches what you're looking for. No signup required.
Our Hubs
Mock Draft Simulator — The simulator hub. 7-round NFL mock drafts with trades, AI opponents, and instant grades.
NFL GM Simulator — The GM mode hub. Manage salary cap, cuts, trades, franchise tags, and the draft for any team.
2026 Draft Prospect Hub — Big board, scouting reports, combine measurables, and team visit tracker.
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Our platform offers data-driven NFL analysis with tools for draft preparation, fantasy football, and player research. All core features are free with daily updates during the NFL season.
The platform serves fantasy football players, NFL Draft enthusiasts, dynasty league managers, sports bettors, content creators, and casual fans exploring NFL statistics.
Compensatory Pick Formula: NFL Definition
The NFL's proprietary formula that determines which teams receive compensatory draft picks based on the net value of free agents lost versus gained. The formula considers salary, playing time, and postseason awards.
Full Explanation
The compensatory pick formula is the methodology the NFL uses to award additional draft picks to teams that suffered net free agent losses during the prior year's free agency period. The exact formula is proprietary and not publicly disclosed by the league, but analysts have reverse-engineered its key components with a high degree of accuracy over the years.
The formula evaluates three primary factors for each qualifying free agent: the player's new contract value (specifically the average annual salary), their playing time with the new team (snaps or games played), and any postseason honors received (Pro Bowl selections, All-Pro designations). These factors are weighted to produce an overall value score for each player who changed teams. The formula then nets a team's losses against its gains to determine whether compensatory picks are warranted.
Not all free agent signings count in the formula. Players who are released (as opposed to leaving in free agency), players who sign after a certain cutoff date, and players who receive qualifying offers from their original team may be excluded. The formula can award picks at the end of rounds 3 through 7, with a maximum of four compensatory picks per team per year. A third-round compensatory pick requires losing a player who signed a top-tier free agent contract, while losing a player on a modest deal might yield only a sixth or seventh-round pick.
Category: Draft & Rookies. Part of the StickToTheModel NFL Encyclopedia.