A total of 31 compensatory choices in the 2001 NFL Draft have been awarded to 16 teams, the NFL announced today. The Rams were awarded a fourth (129th overall) and sixth (197th overall) pick in the 2001 NFL draft.

Under terms of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in a year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks.

The number of picks a team receives equals the net loss of compensatory free agents up to a maximum of four. The 31 compensatory choices announced today will supplement the 215 choices in the regular seven rounds of the 2001 NFL Draft. This year, the compensatory picks will be positioned within the third through seventh rounds based on the value of the compensatory free agents lost.

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

One club this year (Kansas City) will receive a compensatory pick even though it did not suffer a net loss of compensatory free agents. Under the formula, the compensatory free agents Kansas City lost were ranked higher than the ones they signed by a specified point differential.

The following 2001 draft picks have been approved for the St. Louis Rams by the NFL Management Council Executive Committee:

ROUND OVERALL SELECTION

4 129 St. Louis 6 197 St. Louis ---