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Baltimore Ravens: Masters of Compensatory Pick Program

By Joe Serpico

Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Baltimore Ravens general manager and executive vice president Ozzie Newsome speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Baltimore Ravens general manager and executive vice president Ozzie Newsome speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Ravens continue to master the compensatory pick program and have been awarded three more picks in the 2016 NFL Draft.

When it comes to hauling in extra draft picks, no one is better than Ozzie Newsome. The Ravens received three compensatory picks Friday, giving them nine total selections in the upcoming draft.

With the three additional picks, Baltimore continues its gaping lead on the rest of the NFL in total comp picks awarded with 47. The closest teams are the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys, who each have 37 picks to their credit.

The Ravens will receive two fourth round picks (No. 132 and 134) and another in the sixth (No. 209). Only the Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots received the maximum of four picks this season.

Compensatory picks are awarded to teams when unrestricted free agents leave for another team. Baltimore lost Torrey Smith, Owen Daniels and Pernell McPhee last season, and thus received the three picks. Surprisingly, another Raven that left the organization, Tyrod Taylor, did not earn the team a fourth draft pick. He was arguably the best of the three to leave the team.

Ozzie has been known for targeting players in free agency that do not relinquish a draft pick. Last offseason, he grabbed Matt Schaub in free agency because he as cut by the Oakland Raiders. The Ravens also used their compensatory picks to land Tray Walker, Nick Boyle and Robert Myers. 

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Baltimore’s success with players selected with the compensatory picks is well-documented. Sam Koch, a Pro Bowler this season, was a sixth-round comp pick in 2006. Lorenzo Taliaferro, John Urschel, Kyle Juszczyk and Rick Wagner are all current players that were added to the team from the compensatory program. The ultimate pat on the back for Ozzie is that he used a comp pick on McPhee and got one in return once he left for Chicago last offseason.

Compensatory picks are not eligible to be traded in this draft so the Ravens must make selections at 132, 134 and 209. Teams can trade those picks beginning in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Here is a complete list of the Ravens selections in this year’s draft:

No. 6 – First Round
No. 36 – Second Round
No. 70 – Third Round
No. 104 – Fourth Round
No. 130 – Fourth Round (traded Gino Gradkowski to Denver)
No. 132 – Fourth Round (compensatory)
No. 134 – Fourth Round (compensatory)
No. 182 – Sixth Round
No. 209 – Sixth Round (compensatory)

Next: Ravens Clearing Cap Space to Make a Trade?

Earlier today (see link above), I wrote how the Ravens could be working on a trade at some point this offseason. Having seven picks in the top 135 selections gives them the firepower to make some moves in this year’s draft.

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