The Ravens have received 41 compensatory draft picks over the years, by far the most of any NFL team since the program was launched in 1994. Dallas and Green Bay are closest with 33 picks each.
Expect Baltimore to pad its lead.
The Ravens should get four compensatory picks (the maximum allowed per year) for the third straight year.
Perhaps the bigger question is in what rounds those picks will be in. It's possible the Ravens will get fourth-, fifth-, sixth- and seventh-round picks.
That would give the Ravens 11 draft picks heading into this year's draft: first round (1), second round (1), third round (1), fourth round (3), fifth round (2), sixth round (2), seventh round (1).
According to the NFL Management Council, a team losing more or better free agents than it acquired in the previous year is eligible to receive picks. The number of picks a team receives equals the net loss of free agents.
To determine "better" free agents, the council looks at average salaries, playing time and postseason awards. Salaries take up the biggest portion of that equation.
The Ravens lost five free agents last year: defensive tackle Arthur Jones, tackle Michael Oher, cornerback Corey Graham, safety James Ihedigbo and tight end Ed Dickson.
Baltimore signed only one free agent that wasn't cut by another team: safety Darian Stewart.
Stewart and Ihedigbo essentially cancel each other out, as Stewart reportedly averaged $1.3 million salary and Ihedigbo was at $1.5 million.
Jones signed the biggest deal, worth an average of a reported $6.6 million per season. He didn't have a great season as he played in just nine games (three starts), made 23 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Oher had a four-year deal, reportedly averaging $5 million per season with the Titans before they cut him this offseason. He started all 11 games before he went down with a season-ending injury.
Graham inked a four-year deal reportedly averaging just over $4 million per year. He had the most success of any of the free agents with 84 tackles, 15 passes defensed and two interceptions. Graham could turn into a fifth-round compensatory pick instead of a sixth. It's on the brink.
Dickson is another wild-card. He signed a one-year deal with the Panthers for the veteran minimum. Dickson played in all 16 games (no starts) and made 10 catches for 115 yards and one touchdown.
However, the league caps the total number of compensatory picks handed out at 32 (essentially another full round). If other veteran-minimum free agents are deemed better than Dickson last year, he could fall outside of that 32, which would strip a seven-round compensatory pick from the Ravens.
