The NFL’s compensatory pick system is one of the league’s more underappreciated tools for roster building. Lose more qualifying free agents (CFAs) than you sign, and you get rewarded—typically with picks in rounds three through seven, depending on the contract value and performance of those players.
It’s how well-run front offices quietly keep the pipeline stocked.
For the New York Giants, losing Azeez Ojulari to the rival Eagles had the makings of a textbook comp pick win. The former second-rounder inked a one-year, $4 million deal with Philly, which could’ve netted the Giants a late seventh-round selection in 2026. Keyword: could’ve.
Because right as that comp pick was lining up, Jameis Winston showed up—and wiped it off the board. But here’s the thing: that’s actually not bad news at all.
Jameis Winston costs the Giants a 2026 comp pick
Winston’s two-year, $8 million deal nullified the only qualifying departure the G-Men had this offseason. His arrival officially canceled out any comp pick tied to Ojulari, per Over the Cap. It’s a technicality that might cause some minor grumbling, but the reality is this: losing a comp seventh is no real loss.
Seventh-rounders are flyers. Most don’t make the roster. Some don’t even make it to training camp. In exchange, the Giants got a veteran quarterback with personality, perspective, and value—especially on a team with Jaxson Dart waiting in the wings.
Winston has already made his mark. He gave fans the best accidental motto of the offseason—“more giggles, more laughter, more fun”—and brought genuine optimism to a locker room that desperately needed it. After a 3-14 season, that’s not fluff. That’s leadership.
And his impact might extend even further. Before the Giants drafted Dart, the Ole Miss quarterback was asked in a pre-draft interview which NFL quarterback he’d want to train with. His answer? Jameis Winston. Not Mahomes, not Brady. Winston. Dart cited his football IQ, leadership, and teammate-first mentality. That’s the kind of alignment front offices dream about.
So yes, Big Blue lost a potential compensatory 2026 seventh-round pick because of Winston’s deal. But in return, they got a respected vet, an emotional tone-setter, and a mentor perfectly suited to guide their new rookie quarterback. That’s worth way more than a dart throw at pick No. 250.
Losing a pick stings—unless it’s part of something bigger. And this clearly is.