It may not make Steelers fans feel any better, but at least we have an explanation as for why Justin Smith and Bernard Berrian were worth third-round compensatory picks while Faneca garnered the Steelers only a fifth-round pick.The NFL announced that it has a long-time rule that any veteran with 10 years or more of experience in the league cannot earn his former team more than a fifth-round compensatory pick. So while Faneca, who just finished his 11th season, may have been worth a third-round pick on the basis of his contract, playing time and performance, the best the Steelers could do was land the first comp pick of the fifth round.
Apparently, the NFL has had this rule since the comp picks were established back in the 1990s, but they just haven't bothered to tell anyone. There doesn't seem to be any logical reason that the NFL keeps its comp-pick rules and formula secret, but at least this announcement will help everyone understand future comp-pick awards better.
