The NFL announced compensatory Draft picks for 2017 today. Compensatory picks are awarded to teams that lose more in free agency than they gain. There is a complicated formula based on salary and performance that nobody outside the league office seems to totally understand.
The Jets were given a third round pick, 107th overall. It is likely due to the loss of Damon Harrison, who signed for big money with the Giants and had a good season.
The Jets lost three qualifying free agents last year in Harrison, Chris Ivory, and Demario Davis. They signed two, Matt Forte and Steve McLendon. Since they lost one more than they gained, this contributed to them gaining one extra pick. Considering how their small flexibility a year ago limited their ability to sign free agents, they really needed to add at least one.
In the case of Harrison, the team developed him as an undrafted free agent. They turned that into three years of top level production at a low level salary and then a third round pick. The Jets rarely maneuvered so deftly under previous regimes. Hopefully it is a sign of things to come under Mike Maccagnan.
The Jets certainly could use an extra third rounder so this is excellent news.