Thanks, that helps a bunch. I guess I'm still confused on the "why" of it all. If a team loses a player in free agency because another team wanted them more and was willing to pay more, it seems weird that the original team should get compensated for it. The other part that is confusing is the order of the picks. Like, where do the picks come from? There is a set draft order that is determined by where a team finishes, and that order repeats in every round until all the rounds are done. Now Seattle gets 3 more picks that are inserted in some of the later rounds, but that must mean that some other teams are getting bumped back in order to squeeze in Seattle's compensatory picks. It's all confusing, but it is what it is. Thanks for the explanation though.
Well, there could be a number of reasons players leave in free agency. Disgruntled with the team, the team can't afford them, they want to test the market, etc. And sometimes (as we routinely see) teams with a ton of cap can just go hard and throw out stupid money to snag a player. Sometimes it's just unfortunate set of circumstances. It's basically saying, "Look for xyz reasons you lost a good player in free agency. So here's a little something to help." Again these are late 3rd round picks at best.
The picks are effectively awarded by the NFL and given to teams at the END of each round, and the order is again based on the total value given up by the other team signing (on a per player basis). You're correct that other teams get bumped back a bit, but we're 3 handed out in the 3rd round and 4 handed out in the 4th round (there are more than 5 in the 5th, etc.)... and by the END of the 4th round (not as many handed out)... I mean... look I don't work for the NFL but by the time you're getting to the 5th round it's a bit of a crapshoot.
There used to be compensatory I think in mid rounds, but that's no longer the case.
Then of course you have the dumbass JC-2A picks, when minority coaches go to be a head coach... ugh. That stupid ass fuckin' rule. Sadly the 9ers get one because of it (DeMaco Ryans). Rams got one too. That rule is fuckin' bullshit.