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NFL Compensatory Picks: The best every team has ever had

By Erik Lambert

27 Jan 2002 : Brian Dawkins of the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFC Championship Game against the St.Louis Rams at the Dome at the America's Center in St.Louis, Missouri. The Rams advance to the Superbowl after winning 29-24. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
27 Jan 2002 : Brian Dawkins of the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFC Championship Game against the St.Louis Rams at the Dome at the America's Center in St.Louis, Missouri. The Rams advance to the Superbowl after winning 29-24. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images /
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NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 14: Antoine Bethea #41 of the Indianapolis Colts reacts after a tackle in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on November 14, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 14: Antoine Bethea #41 of the Indianapolis Colts reacts after a tackle in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on November 14, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Christian Covington (DE, Houston Texans)

He’s the highest compensatory pick the young franchise has ever had and is in the process of claiming the title of the best as well. Christian Covington may play second fiddle to the likes of J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t made good contributions. He’s been a quality rotational defensive lineman for the past four years, helping them routinely in their run defense while also collecting 7.5 sacks. There’s no question 2018 was his best season to date with 3.5 sacks and eight QB hits in just 12 games. His arrow continues pointing up.

Antoine Bethea (S, Indianapolis Colts)

Antoine Bethea was a sixth-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2006 NFL Draft. No other player from that draft class for the Colts has played even close to the number of games Bethea has (193 and counting).

Bethea played his college ball at Howard, and wasted no time making an impact on the Colts’ defense.

He started 14 of 14 games played his rookie season, racking up 90 total tackles, breaking up five passes, and recording his first of 24 career interceptions.

Bethea has really been one of the most consistent safeties in football since he was drafted in 2006. He may not be the player he once was but he picked off five passes at the age of 33 back in 2017.

This past season with the Cardinals, Bethea started all 16 games and had 121 tackles, the second most in a single season in his NFL career.

Rob Meier (DL, Jacksonville Jaguars)

Give the Jaguars credit. Getting 138 games out of a 7th round compensatory pick is pretty impressive in any era. Rob Meier was never a star for their defense, but he was always the guy who didn’t mind doing the dirty work. He played hard, did his job, and was a fixture of their locker room for almost a decade. He eventually retired with 226 tackles and 21.5 sacks as a rotational defensive linemen. He helped the team make the playoffs twice, having a sack in two of the three games he played in. A fine player who had himself a quality career.

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