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The addition of wide receiver Golden Tate was better than any free agent the Detroit Lions lost last offseason.

(Melanie Maxwell | MLive.com)

Each year, the NFL awards 32 compensatory draft picks to teams who lost better quality free agents than they signed the previous offseason. The Detroit Lions have benefited the past two years, scoring an extra fourth- and seventh-round selection in 2013 and a pair of fourth-rounders last year.

Don't expect that trend to continue in 2015.

Detroit saw two of its own quality free agents sign elsewhere last offseason with backup quarterback Shaun Hill inking a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the St. Louis Rams and defensive end Willie Young scoring a three-year pact with the Chicago Bears valued at $9 million.

But those losses were offset by a pair of more valuable additions, both in contract value and performance.

The Lions lured wide receiver Golden Tate to Detroit with a five-year, $31 million contract. So far, it's been worth every penny as he set career-highs with 99 catches and 1,331 receiving yards in 2014. Those numbers were good enough to earn him a trip to the Pro Bowl.

It should be noted, playing time and postseason honors, such as Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, are factored into the top-secret compensatory pick formula.

The Lions also added veteran safety James Ihedigbo with a two-year, $3.15 million deal. He didn't make the Pro Bowl, but gave Detroit 824 snaps in 13 games. Young, who tore his Achilles in Week 16, was on the field for 663 reps for the Bears. Hill started eight games for the Rams, logging 450 snaps.

As for next year, the Lions are in line for at least two compensatory selections, following the departures of defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley via free agency.

Suh will undoubtedly net the Lions a third-round choice, the highest awarded by the league. Fairley's one-year, $5 million deal with St. Louis is likely to give Detroit an extra fifth-round pick, but if the former first-rounder were to earn Pro Bowl honors, it could easily bump up to a fourth.

There's also an outside chance the Lions could score a seventh-rounder for offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds, who signed a one-year deal with the Rams on Wednesday.

It's important to note, the Lions haven't signed any players this offseason who would negatively impact the formula which determines the picks. Defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker, formerly with the New Orleans Saints, does not count because he was not tendered as a restricted free agent.

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