The Ravens' signature offseason tactic is poised to pay dividends again after a calculated free agency
The Baltimore Ravens are reloading in one of their favorite offseason strategies once again this year. Few teams make use of the NFL's compensatory pick formula quite like the Ravens do. The NFL, as a counterbalance to the free agency system, rewards teams that lose more than they gain on the open market by rewarding draft […]
The Baltimore Ravens are reloading in one of their favorite offseason strategies once again this year.
Few teams make use of the NFL's compensatory pick formula quite like the Ravens do. The NFL, as a counterbalance to the free agency system, rewards teams that lose more than they gain on the open market by rewarding draft picks in the following year's NFL Draft. This past spring, Baltimore was rewarded the maximum amount of compensatory picks (four) for their trouble with net gains and losses in free agency from last year's free agency departures.
Names that cashed in for Baltimore included LB Patrick Queen, OG John Simpson, SAF Geno Stone, and OG Kevin Zeitler. The Ravens would be awarded a pick in the fourth round, a pick in the fifth round, and two picks in the sixth round based on the league's system for quantifying player value.
The most recent update from the marquee destination for compensatory pick projections is in, and Baltimore is once again sitting pretty.
Best and worst-case scenarios for Baltimore's 2026 compensatory picks
This offseason, Baltimore bid farewell to two prominent players who got paid handsomely to be starters elsewhere. Cornerback Brandon Stephens and offensive lineman Patrick Mekari both signed contracts with an annual average salary of at least $12 million per season. With much of Baltimore's offseason spending with external free agents not touching that financial range and several other depth players being plucked as qualifying free agents to other teams, Over The Cap's Nick Korte has the Ravens sitting pretty.
The difference between the "best-case" and "worst-case" scenarios for Baltimore is two seventh-round draft choices. But the projections keep the picks projected for both Mekari and Stephens safe. Korte's forecast has both as fifth-round draft choices.
"The Ravens are clearly planning for their comp picks to be two 5th rounders and at least one 7th rounder, with another 7th rounder merely a nice to have if they get it. If disaster were to strike and Lamar Jackson were to miss several games, giving Cooper Rush enough snaps to qualify, it would only cost them a 7th rounder at most."
– Nick Korte, Over The Cap
This isn't what you'd find across the league. Teams like the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins have a fourth-round compensatory pick hanging in the balance for losses like CB Paulson Adebo and SAF Jevon Holland. Depending on how a number of variables play out, the Saints and Dolphins could get no picks at all.
Baltimore, however, can rest easy knowing their cycle will continue for another year. Few teams game the system better than the Ravens and the projections suggest that will continue into 2026.
Lamar Jackson’s secret superpower is again helping the Ravens win the margins and it should change what his next contract looks like
The Baltimore Ravens did it. After a very enthusiastic public plea from Lamar Jackson to land cornerback Jaire Alexander, it took just 24 hours for the news to hit that Baltimore had indeed closed the deal. The prospect of such an addition is understandably exciting, especially if you're willing to overlook the contributing factors that […]
