According to a recent ESPN.Com poll, The 2007 NFL draft is the most anticipated sports related event this spring. In addition, research numbers indicated that nearly 50% of the Fans who responded to the poll said they would watch some or all of the Draft, which is just 25 days away. In another poll conducted by the Neilsen Media research firm, the indication is that the number of fans who watch all or some of the draft coverage has risen each year since 2002(29.3 million fans). Last year 36.3 million fans tuned into the draft, nearly a 3 million increase from the year before. This year the number could come close to if not top 40 million fans. Amazing for an event that is still considered an afterthough by some(but not us!!)

The NFL has awarded 32 compensatory draft choices in the April draft. The compensatory choices supplement the 223 choices in the upcoming draft. The picks are set for the third through seventh rounds, based on the value of a team’s free agents lost last offseason.

The purpose of these picks is to compensate the teams that suffered a net loss of quality unrestricted free agents in the previous year. A team that loses more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in a year is eligibile to receive compensatory picks, up to a maximum of four.

Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. Not every free agent lost or signed by a franchise is covered by this formula, which was developed by the NFL Management Council.

According to a press release from the NFL, one team (Cincinnati) this year will receive a compensatory pick even though it did not suffer a net loss of compensatory free agents. Under the above-mentioned formula, the compensatory free agents that the Bengals lost were ranked higher than the ones it signed (by a specified point differential based upon salary and performance).

The final two draft choices, picks Nos. 254 and 255, are supplemental compensatory picks (based upon draft-order formula) to fulfill the number of draft choices permitted by agreement with the NFL Players Association in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

What follows are the 32 compensatory picks awarded by the NFL, listed by round, with the overall selection number in parentheses:

3 (96) San Diego
3 (97) San Francisco
3 (98) Indianapolis
3 (99) Oakland
4 (132) Pittsburgh
4 (133) Atlanta
4 (134) Baltimore
4 (135) San Francisco
4 (136) Indianapolis
4 (137) Baltimore
5 (170) Pittsburgh
5 (171) New England
5 (172) San Diego
5 (173) Indianapolis
5 (174) Baltimore
6 (207) Baltimore
6 (208) New England
6 (209) New England
6 (210) Seattle
7 (243) Green Bay
7 (244) Atlanta
7 (245) Tampa Bay
7 (246) Tampa Bay
7 (247) New England
7 (248) St. Louis
7 (249) St. Louis
7 (250) New York Giants
7 (251) Jacksonville
7 (252) Jacksonville
7 (253) Cincinnati
7 (254) Oakland
7 (255) Detroit

Following are the compensatory free agents lost and signed by the clubs that will receive compensatory picks in the 2007 NFL draft:

ATLANTA — Lost: Barry Stokes, Kevin Shaffer.

BALTIMORE — Lost: Will Demps, Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Chester Taylor, Anthony Weaver, Anthony Wright, Dave Zastudil. Signed: Justin Bannan.

CINCINNATI — Lost: Jon Kitna, Matt Schobel. Signed: Anthony Wright, Dexter Jackson.

GREEN BAY — Lost: Mike Flanagan, Paris Lenon, Ryan Longwell, Craig Nall. Signed: Marquand Manuel, Ryan Pickett, Charles Woodson.

INDIANAPOLIS — Lost: Edgerrin James, David Thornton, Larry Tripplett, Mike Vanderjagt. Signed: Adam Vinatieri.

JACKSONVILLE — Lost: Akin Ayodele, Ephraim Salaam, Jamie Winborn, Kenny Wright. Signed: Nick Greisen, Brian Williams.

NEW ENGLAND — Lost: Tom Ashworth, Matt Chatham, André Davis, Tim Dwight, Christian Fauria, David Givens, Adam Vinatieri. Signed: Reche Caldwell.

NEW YORK GIANTS — Lost: Will Allen, Kendrick Clancy, Nick Greisen, Shaun Williams. Signed: Jason Bell, Will Demps, R.W. McQuarters.

OAKLAND — Lost: Renaldo Hill, Charles Woodson. Signed: Lance Johnstone.

PITTSBURGH — Lost: Chris Hope, Antwaan Randle El, Kimo von Oelhoffen. Signed: Ryan Clark.

ST. LOUIS — Lost: Adam Archuleta, Tyoka Jackson, Damione Lewis, Jamie Martin, Ryan Pickett, Rex Tucker. Signed: Fakhir Brown, Corey Chavous, Todd Steussie, Will Witherspoon.

SAN DIEGO — Lost: Drew Brees, Reche Caldwell, Ben Leber, Justin Peelle. Signed: Marlon McCree, Aaron Shea.

SAN FRANCISCO — Lost: Andre Carter, Anthony Clement, Julian Peterson. Signed: Antonio Bryant.

SEATTLE — Lost: Ryan Hannam, Steve Hutchinson, Joe Jurevicius, Marquand Manuel. Signed: Tom Ashworth, Russell Davis, Julian Peterson.

TAMPA BAY — Lost: Jameel Cook, Dexter Jackson, Todd Steussie. Signed: Jamie Winborn.

Services Provided:
Contract Negotiations
Endorsements
Public Relations
Marketing

Education:
Hastings, J.D. 88
UCLA, B.A. 83

Active NFL Contracts Negotiated: 48

Dunn represents the highest value of contracts of any NFL player agent. But since losing a $44.6 million lawsuit to his former partner in November 2002, Dunn has suffered a number of setbacks. The NFLPA's disciplinary committee voted to suspend him for two years, but Dunn filed for personal bankruptcy, which halted all administrative actions against him. His partner, Joby Branion, began serving a nine-month suspension this month. If this is reported nine months from now, Dunn may not make it, but he's battled the odds before and came out ahead.

His list of major clients has included some very famous names:
• Matt Hasselbeck
• Drew Bledsoe
• Kerry Collins
• Ahman Green
• DeShaun Foster
• Zack Crockett