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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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ST. LOUIS – NOVEMBER 14: Brandon Manumaleuna #86 of the St. Louis Rams holds off both Michael Boulware #28 and Anthony Simmons #51 of the Seattle Seahawks, giving Marc Bulger #10 time to pass, on November 14, 2004 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS – NOVEMBER 14: Brandon Manumaleuna #86 of the St. Louis Rams holds off both Michael Boulware #28 and Anthony Simmons #51 of the Seattle Seahawks, giving Marc Bulger #10 time to pass, on November 14, 2004 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Dustin Colquitt (P, Kansas City Chiefs)

It’s not often a punter being selected in the third round of the NFL Draft turns out to be a great value, but there are far worse players you could select with the 99th overall pick than Dustin Colquitt.

Colquitt was drafted out of Tennessee by the Chiefs in 2005, and has played all but two games of his NFL career since that point.

Colquitt is one of the best punters in the NFL and has been ever since he was drafted into the league. He’s been named to two Pro Bowl teams and has been a model of consistency for them.

The Chiefs found a lifer with this compensatory pick.

Vaughn Parker (OT, Los Angeles Chargers)

Jatavis Brown is still in the early stages of his NFL career (he’s been in the league three years) but he’s quickly established himself as the Chargers’ best compensatory player ever.

Brown was taken in the fifth round (175th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft, an afterthought because he played his college ball at Akron and measured only 5-foot-11, 221 pounds ahead of the NFL Draft.

What Brown lacks in size he more than makes up for with speed, physicality, and instincts.

In 2018, he posted a career-high 97 tackles and he has 249 total tackles in his NFL career already at this point.

He has yet to start a full slate of games for the Chargers but after 10 starts and all of his production in 2018, there’s no doubt he will be a full-time starter going forward.

Brandon Manumaleuna (TE, Los Angeles Rams)

Brandon Manumaleuna was taken by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round (129th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft.

He played collegiately at Arizona, and though he was never a spectacular receiver in the NFL, he carved out a long and successful career for himself as one of the best blockers in the league at his position.

He only had 1,008 career receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, but Manumaleuna was constantly a coveted player while he was still in the league because he could help an offense in so many roles, as a tight end, H-back, fullback, or effectively a sixth offensive lineman.

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