NFL Compensatory Picks: The best every team has ever had

Peter Sirmon (LB, Tennessee Titans)

The first ever compensatory pick the franchise made back in 2000. They were in search of new blood on a veteran defense and Sirmon arrived via the 4th round from Oregon. He served as a backup his first two seasons before elevating to the starting lineup in 2002. He had quite the first impression that year with 93 tackles, two sacks, and three interceptions. The Titans reached the AFC championship game that year. He would end up playing four seasons as a starter for them, amassing 346 tackles. He retired not long after that and has since gone into coaching

Rocky Cartwright (RB, Washington Redskins)

The Redskins haven’t been one of those teams that embraces the compensatory pick system like others, preferring to use a mix of the draft and free agency to do their work. However, they did at least collect one small gem. Rock Cartwright was a 7th rounder out of Kansas State. He was primarily a backup running back the first few years before finally getting an opportunity as their kick returner in 2006. Over the next four seasons, he compiled 5,547 all-purpose yards with two touchdowns. Maybe if he’d played on better teams, he’d be better known today.