Who takes advantage of the compensatory pick formula more than general manager Eric DeCosta and the Baltimore Ravens? NOBODY! Literally nobody. DeCosta and the Ravens love themselves some compensatory draft picks.
Unfortunately to get said comp picks, they need to lose valuable free agents. Teams receive compensatory draft picks if they lose more qualifying free agents than they sign in a given offseason. The picks, awarded at the end of rounds 3-7, are based on a secret formula that factors in contract size, playing time, and postseason awards.
It acts like a "reward" system for losing players with value. For instance, the Ravens will have four comp picks in the 2025 NFL Draft due to losing players like Patrick Queen, Kevin Zeitler, Geno Stone, and Jadeveon Clowney.
The Ravens could have more compensatory picks on the way in 2026
Baltimore came into the offseason with a couple of question marks, but none bigger than Ronnie Stanley's future. After agreeing to a three-year, $60 million deal to remain with the Ravens, the offseason shifted focus to hanging back and striking when the opportunity presented itself. Well, so far, there haven't been many opportunities for the Ravens, but their hanging back has resulted in a few of their free agents departing for greener pastures.
Well when one door closes, another door opens, and the free-agent departures of a few top free agents have unlocked even more comp picks for DeCosta and Co. for the 2026 NFL Draft (as it stands right now).
According to Over the Cap, Brandon Stephens, Patrick Mekari, and Malik Harrison's exits have lined the Ravens' draft pockets with three compensatory picks in 2026.
After Brandon Stephens struggled throughout the 2024 season in coverage, getting burned left and right, the New York Jets decided to throw him a three-year, $36 million deal. They lost one of their starting cornerbacks when D.J. Reed left them for the Detroit Lions, but still, it was an interesting contract to throw Stephens' way. That contract could net the Ravens a fifth-round comp pick.
Patrick Mekari, the do-everything, fan-favorite lineman who struggled at times with penalties, found his way to the Jacksonville Jaguars on a nice three-year, $37.5 million contract, which could net the Ravens another 2026 fifth-round comp pick. Mekari was an undrafted free agent back in 2019, so that's a pretty good return on investment for Baltimore.
The last comp pick that could stumble Baltimore's way is a potential seventh-rounder that could be awarded due to the loss of Malik Harrison to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Harrison is teaming up with former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen to try to get the Steelers past the first round of the playoffs in 10 years. Good luck, mate.
The Ravens are playing the long game, whether by design or coincidence, and once again, the comp pick formula is working in their favor. Another year, another draft where DeCosta gets a few extra swings at finding future starters. We'll take it.