The Baltimore Ravens saw a good number of high-profile players leave the organization in free agency last offseason. Outside linebackers Za’Darius Smith and C.J. Mosley signed huge deals with other teams while the Ravens also lost legend Terrell Suggs, wide receiver John Brown. Baltimore seemed to be willing to let those guys go, both because they couldn’t reasonably match the offers handed out and because they’d get rewarded with compensatory picks.
According to Over The Cap, the Ravens will indeed get some comp picks in return, but maybe not at the levels they had been hoping. Thanks to the NFL’s compensatory-pick formula, Baltimore is set to get two fourth-round picks back.
The Ravens signed running back Mark Ingram and safety Earl Thomas in free agency, helping to negate the loss of Smith and Suggs in the formula. And with both Mosley missing games due to injury, it lowered his value from what many expected to be a third-round comp pick to the fourth round.
If Over The Cap’s valuations hold true, it’ll be a big blow to Baltimore in the 2020 NFL draft. The Ravens have loved to game the comp-pick system in previous years, factoring it into decisions on a player’s value to them. But in the case of Smith, Mosley and Suggs, Baltimore could have really used their presence in 2019 as they went on a 14-2 tear but failed to win in the postseason. Both inside and outside linebacker was a point of frustration for the Ravens, with injuries and poor play plaguing the team, forcing them to find free-agent help in the middle of the season.
