The three compensatory picks the Redskins received from the NFL are a sign they’re doing something right. 
    The Redskins haven’t received many of these picks over the years because they usually sign more free agents than they lose. There also has been a tendency by other teams not to sign the Redskins free agents, which has said something about the players on the Redskins roster.

    But this year, the Redskins get the first compensatory pick, at the end of the third round. This is compensation for losing Derrick Dockery. The Redskins initially made a mistake by not re-signing Dockery during the 2006 season. But they avoided making a bigger mistake by getting into a bidding war once Dockery hit the free-agent market. Dockery is a solid left guard. But the massive contract he got from Buffalo was more a matter of market-timing than it was a matter of Dockery possessing talent equal to the millions he received.

    Instead, the Redskins plugged in Pete Kendall, who will cost them about $4 million for two seasons, if his knees permit him to play this season. That’s more economical than committing $46 million to Dockery.

  The two other compensatory picks should make the Redskins chuckle. After the 2006 season, the Redskins lost running back T.J. Duckett, linebacker Warrick Holdman and cornerback Kenny Wright.
Duckett was acquired as an insurance policy after Clinton Portis dislocated his shoulder in the first preseason game of 2006. Duckett was rarely used and essentially got the season off.

  Wright was supposed to be the answer as the Redskins nickel cornerback. He was pressed into starting duty when Shawn Springs had injury problems, but Wright was ineffective. Holdman was a decent outside linebacker.

    To get two seventh-round picks for players who contributed little is a bit of a coup for the Redskins. Duckett came with a cost—a mid-round draft choice in 2007. But at least the Redskins can make the argument that with this compensatory pick, plus the 132 yards and two touchdowns they got from Duckett in 2006, that trade now becomes a wash.
 
  Maybe. Maybe not.

  The Redskins did not get four compensatory picks because they signed one free agent, middle linebacker London Fletcher. Fletcher has an excellent season last year.

    These picks guarantee the Redskins a late evening on the first day of the draft. The NFL wants to get through three rounds on day one of the draft. The Redskins will pick 33rd in the third round.
   
    One thing to remember about compensatory picks is that they can’t be traded. No matter what happens on draft day, the Redskins will have to make these three picks.