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The Panthers used a third-round compensatory draft choice in 2011 to select defensive tackle Sione Fua.
The Panthers have been awarded one compensatory draft choice in the 2012 NFL Draft, the NFL announced Monday. Carolina received a selection in the sixth round (207th overall), giving them a total of seven picks in next month's draft.
The extra draft choice will supplement the Panthers' other six selections in the seven-round draft April 26-28. In addition to the compensatory, they have picks in the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds. Carolina traded its third-rounder to Chicago for tight end Greg Olsen last July.
Under the rules for compensatory draft selections, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous league year's free agency period is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks. Most often, a compensatory free agent is defined as a player who was signed or lost in the category of unrestricted free agent and remained on the signing team's roster during the regular season.
Last year, the Panthers lost tight end Jeff King, cornerback Richard Marshall and quarterback Matt Moore and signed defensive tackle Ron Edwards and kicker Olindo Mare.
The number of selections a team may receive equals the net loss of compensatory free agents, up to a maximum of four. Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula - developed by the NFL Management Council - that is based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. However, not every free agent lost by a club results in a compensatory pick.
Compensatory picks occur in the third through seventh rounds, based on the value of the compensatory free agents lost. By rule, additional compensatory selections are awarded at the end of the seventh round to bring the total number of compensatory choices in the draft to 32, equaling the number of NFL clubs. Teams may not trade compensatory picks.
Carolina has received 14 total compensatory selections in franchise history: one in 1998, one in 2002, three in 2005, two in 2008, three in 2010, three in 2011 and one this year.
