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Nigel Bradham departure should net Buffalo Bills a 2017 NFL Draft compensatory pick

It's possible (though maybe not likely) that they land a second compensatory pick for losing Ron Brooks, as well

One of the better sites for keep track of NFL salary cap data is OverTheCap.com, which also makes a valiant effort at trying to project compensatory picks for the following year's NFL DraftThey published their projection for the 2017 NFL Draft last week, and in it, the Buffalo Bills land an extra sixth-round pick for the free-agent defection of linebacker Nigel Bradham.

Two things to keep in mind regarding the projection: the possibility exists for the Bills to end up with another compensatory pick if things fall their way, which OTC accounts for in their write-up; and the projection includes three seventh-round picks, even though the NFL didn't put any compensatory picks in that round this past year.

The Bills could end up with another seventh-round compensatory pick for the defection of cornerback Ron Brooks, who signed a three-year deal in Philadelphia, where he will remain Bradham's teammate. That would only happen if the Bills released linebacker Zach Brown, who signed for more than the veteran-minimum status of the team's seven other free agent signings, and that does not seem likely to happen. It may not happen, either, if the NFL is still done awarding seventh-round compensatory picks.

Buffalo traded away its fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft when they moved up to select Reggie Ragland in the second round three weekends ago, but they already have a fifth-round pick back from Dallas thanks to the Matt Cassel trade last September. Adding another compensatory pick for Bradham would help offset the cost of moving up for a starting linebacker.