Chicago Bears fans have grown accustomed to being shut out of the compensatory pick party in recent years. In fact, Chicago hadn't received an extra draft selection since 2009.
Then came the 2020 NFL Draft. The Bears received a fourth-round compensatory pick because of the still mysterious formula that weighed their 2019 free agent gains against their losses. Essentially, it came down Adrian Amos skipping town for the Packers.
General manager Ryan Pace used that selection in the Bears' trade for Nick Foles, which by any measure should be graded as a big win.
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All signs are pointing toward the 2021 NFL draft being an even bigger win for Chicago's draft-pick arsenal. According to Over The Cap, the Bears are positioning for four (yes, four!) compensatory picks in 2021. Chicago is one of four teams (Falcons, Cowboys and Eagles) projected to receive that many.
The free-agent losses factoring into the Bears' 2021 calculation are Nick Williams, HaHa Clinton-Dix, Chase Daniel and Kevin Pierre-Louis. Pace didn't sign any veterans, according to OTC, to offset those four.