Baltimore Ravens compensatory picks likely limited this year

The Ravens are known to be the masters of the Compensatory pick game, having garnered the most in the league since their implementation in 1994, with 44. The Green Bay Packers are a distant second, with 35. The past few years the Ravens have really accumulated extra choices, with 4 in 2014, 3 in 2015, and an anticipated 3 in 2016.

This season, however, the Ravens are looking to have fewer opportunities to accumulate extra picks. A smaller free agent class, combined with the Ravens resigning two of their own, Morgan Cox and Shareece Wright leave the Ravens unlikely to end up with more than 2 or 3 compensatory picks following the signing of Ben Watson today.

Kelechi Osemele is reportedly headed to the Oakland Raiders for a monster deal, so the Ravens will be receiving a 3rd round compensation for him. Matt Schaub recently surprised when he signed with the Falcons, although not much skill is needed to hold a clipboard. Of the rest of the free agents though, the only one sure to sign on with another team is outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw, rumored to be headed to Indianapolis to join his former linebackers coach Ted Monachino.

The Ravens have a few other possibilities, but they are longshots at best. Chris Canty, who the had the Ravens decline his option this year maintaining his compensatory pick eligibility, is one option. Chris Givens and Jimmy Clausen round out the list of players who have a shot of gaining the team extra picks. Givens is most likely to garner the extra selection, from a team, although it will probably be a small deal.

The truth is, none of these players are likely going to garner a premium pick besides Osemele's third rounder, so the hope is that enough of them sign to enable the Ravens to go after whomever they desire without risking Osemele's premium pick.