I thought that was with restricted free agents - the compensatory pick being the restriction. WIth unrestricted free agents I thought there was no compensation. Just like signing Fleming and Ealy didn't cost the Cowboys any compensatory picks.
i think you are confusing compensatory picks. an unrestricted free agent signs with another team. the NFL, not the team signing the player, gives the team losing the player a compensatory pick based on how much he signs for.
ex: ronald leary left as an unrestricted free agent. denver doesn't send dallas a pick. Dallas gets an extra pick at the end of the 4th round based on the amount leary signed for. also keep in mind that as you sign free agents, this may impact or negate the compensatory picks you might get for losing your own free agents.
when talking about restricted free agents, the team signing the player has to give up a pick for how the restricted free agent was tendered.
ex: david irving was a restricted free agent. tendered a 2nd round pick wise for money from dallas. if someone signed him and dallas decided not to match, they would have gotten a second round pick.
restricted free agents are typically lower drafted players that are finishing up their initial nfl contracts. earl thomas not only was a high pick but will be an unrestricted free agent because he is an nfl vet.