The Ravens had their 2015 draft stock bolstered Monday night when they received three compensatory draft picks.
Loading up with compensatory picks has been a clear strategy for General Manager Ozzie Newsome, and the Ravens lead the NFL with 44 since the system started in 1994. The next closest team is Green Bay with 35.
Often times it doesn't sound very exciting to get mid- to late-round picks, but the Ravens have found some gems in the past.
Here are nine players you may not have known were drafted as compensatory picks:
RB Lorenzo Taliaferro, 2014Fourth round, Pick No. 138
The hard-nosed running back out of Coastal Carolina provided the Ravens with a quality short-yardage back during his rookie season, rushing for 292 yards and four touchdowns on 68 carries. Now he's in line for a bigger role in Year 2 behind starter Justin Forsett.
OL John Urschel, 2014Fifth round, Pick No. 175
The offensive lineman from Penn State proved to be a valuable late-round addition for the Ravens. He had no problem stepping into the starting lineup at both left guard and right guard, providing the offensive line with quality depth behind the starting unit.
FB Kyle Juszczyk, 2013Fourth round, Pick No. 130
The Ravens drafted the Harvard fullback with plans to take advantage of his versatility out of the backfield. Like Wagner, he took on a starting job during his sophomore season and ended up performing as one of the league's best players at his position.
RT Rick Wagner, 2013Fifth Round, Pick. No. 168
After spending his first year in a reserve role, the offensive lineman out of Wisconsin thrived as a starter in 2014. Wagner was one of the best right tackles in the NFL last season, seamlessly taking the starting right tackle job after Michael Oher departed in free agency.
OLB Pernell McPhee, 2011Fifth round, Pick No. 165
Newsome always loves to bring in young pass rushers, and McPhee performed at a high level during his four years in Baltimore. He made an immediate impact with six sacks during his rookie season, and then he racked up 7.5 sacks last year. The strong 2014 season allowed McPhee to cash in with a big deal in free agency – he signed a $40 million deal with Chicago – and the Ravens will likely get a compensatory pick in return next year for his departure, making the compensatory pick cycle come full circle.
FB Le'Ron McClain, 2007Fourth round, Pick No. 137The Ravens snagged a four-year starter in McClain, who was more than just a blocking back during his time with the Ravens. McClain rushed for 902 yards in 2008 when he split the ball carrying duties with Willis McGahee and Ray Rice. McClain scored 12 touchdowns during his four years with the Ravens.
QB Troy Smith, 2007Fifth round, Pick No. 174
The Ravens drafted the Heisman Trophy winner as a late-round pick and he ended up starting two games his rookie season in Baltimore. Smith entered training camp in 2008 as the expected starter over rookie first-round pick Joe Flacco, but Smith missed much of camp with an illness. Flacco won the job and hasn't missed a game throughout his seven-year career.
P Sam Koch, 2006Sixth round, Pick No. 203
The sixth-round pick out of Nebraska has been one of the league's most consistent punters during his nine seasons with the Ravens. Koch is now the second-longest tenured player for the Ravens behind outside linebacker Terrell Suggs.
OG Edwin Mulitalo*Fourth round, Pick No. 129
*The offensive lineman became a key member of the offensive line during his eight seasons in Baltimore. Mulitalo was a starter throughout his Ravens career, including when he started every game during the team's first Super Bowl run in 2000.
Baltimore has been awarded the most compensatory picks in the league since the system was instituted in 1994.
![Year: 1997, Round: 6](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/ktbejm7gjynjkrajaw0w.jpg)
Year: 1997, Round: 6
![Year: 1997, Round: 7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/jcprnz51nmh5kqii676e.jpg)
Year: 1997, Round: 7
![Year: 1997, Round: 7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/ykkj6apyw91pjpaxupwq.jpg)
Year: 1997, Round: 7
![Year: 1997, Round: 7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/f6cw8fz7tictr4tfzli6.jpg)
Year: 1997, Round: 7
![Year: 1998, Round: 7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/nrxi2ae0ngnfeic7opcp.jpg)
Year: 1998, Round: 7
![Year: 1999, Round: 4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/ibeertiqtpd78jgvmjgt.jpg)
Year: 1999, Round: 4
![Year: 2002, Round: 6](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/zntd34slvwehxvmal0v6.jpg)
Year: 2002, Round: 6
![Year: 2002, Round: 6](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/srafcgaq01uazlxxqmsd.jpg)
Year: 2002, Round: 6
![Year: 2002, Round: 6](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/r2vy97bqqml7vkijnbnh.jpg)
Year: 2002, Round: 6
![Year: 2003, Round: 4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/yvyzt84m3hxvrtzfbnyj.jpg)
Year: 2003, Round: 4
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Year: 2003, Round: 5
![Year: 2003, Round: 7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/phrxcs3fnmyo6vnibp3f.jpg)
Year: 2003, Round: 7
![Year: 2003, Round: 7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/sdjyb9d9cpx2e4py3fb8.jpg)
Year: 2003, Round: 7
![Year: 2004, Round: 6](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/gbq9zajl2v83rlnz9qzz.jpg)
Year: 2004, Round: 6
![Year: 2004, Round: 7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/n4v6gxivebdkfpobm5yk.jpg)
Year: 2004, Round: 7
![Year: 2006, Round: 4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/ikfdhspo2qy7mwrkapre.jpg)
Year: 2006, Round: 4
![Year: 2004, Round: 7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/jcypr1xrw6ezvbwg1pm1.jpg)
Year: 2004, Round: 7
![Year: 2006, Round: 4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/oy7fycb18wqoopgm8qcw.jpg)
Year: 2006, Round: 4
![Year: 2006, Round: 5](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/v4kpsmhhdpdfxsr5lt8h.jpg)
Year: 2006, Round: 5
![Year: 2006, Round: 6](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/whubroa34nzqsi2efqce.jpg)
Year: 2006, Round: 6
![Year: 2006, Round: 6](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/zkm3syf2cqqkihivheih.jpg)
Year: 2006, Round: 6
![Year: 2007, Round: 4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/txpvvbvces21uoeccyfc.jpg)
Year: 2007, Round: 4
![Year: 2007, Round: 4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/zo6l7u3bdmkbqg2sjc6l.jpg)
Year: 2007, Round: 4
![Year: 2007, Round: 5](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/g2rol115ntk0irsiskjf.jpg)
Year: 2007, Round: 5
![Year: 2007, Round: 6](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/pwnmj8atiiob8we2qptw.jpg)
Year: 2007, Round: 6
![Year: 2008, Round: 3](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/kajfhjdft0bfykw7ui9t.jpg)
Year: 2008, Round: 3
![Year: 2008, Round: 4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/rqcjxiblfaedowawnbqh.jpg)
Year: 2008, Round: 4
![Year: 2008, Round: 6](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/vpnnsjp0stkn2pzxhahy.jpg)
Year: 2008, Round: 6
![WR Allen Patrick
2008 Draft - Round 7, Pick 240](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/vnwvozfcux8nkbywxe9p.jpg)
WR Allen Patrick
2008 Draft - Round 7, Pick 240
![Year: 2011, Round: 5](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/g6vsrchpt22zttbi2x0h.jpg)
Year: 2011, Round: 5
![Year: 2011, Round: 5](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/oxuvirjnrxrs7l7p6dru.jpg)
Year: 2011, Round: 5
![Year: 2012, Round: 4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/ggigx33odv5nwt2nv1ft.jpg)
Year: 2012, Round: 4
![Year: 2012, Round: 5](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/ujcplhcrqom5pgvpnyv8.jpg)
Year: 2012, Round: 5
![Year: 2013, Round: 4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/etev6pcbxrzbvxehkiov.jpg)
Year: 2013, Round: 4
![Year: 2013, Round: 5](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/t56odwxaiutf9ozbqbg3.jpg)
Year: 2013, Round: 5
![Year: 2013, Round: 6](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/givzcpdmwap7uxqxpdjz.jpg)
Year: 2013, Round: 6
![Year: 2013, Round: 7](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/pfx4keawloi43izxff1i.jpg)
Year: 2013, Round: 7
![Year: 2014, Round: 3](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/ro0bimq3orn1uo4e0d6r.jpg)
Year: 2014, Round: 3
![Year: 2014, Round: 4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/w6dxhtba6epv2rtecxr6.jpg)
Year: 2014, Round: 4
![Year: 2014, Round: 4](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/wjpwtcvxelgeqvmdrfgo.jpg)
Year: 2014, Round: 4
![Year: 2014, Round: 5](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/ravens/oyxzomvq60gfmetsecoi.jpg)
Year: 2014, Round: 5