If I am not mistaken, if you sign a veteran player before June 1st his acquisition is factored into the compensatory pick calculations. Boldin is one of those players that would count quite a bit in that calculation, while Vincent Brown shouldn't have any affect whatsoever.

Depends on the amount that player signs for...

and since we usually cut guys, not "lose" them to FA, it is usually a wash for us. In other words, we won't get anything if Evans or Colston sign elsewhere

and wasn't Boldin cut? if so, he wouldn't count against us