PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Baltimore Ravens have acquired more ammunition for the April draft, being awarded two compensatory selections Monday at the annual NFL owners meetings.
The defending AFC North champions picked up a fourth-round selection (130th overall) and a fifth-round pick (169th overall).
Now, the Ravens have eight total selections with one in each round.
The Ravens traded away their original fourth-round draft pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for wide receiver Lee Evans last summer, but Evans had an unproductive, injury-plagued season and dropped a potential game-winning touchdown pass to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game.
Under the NFL formula for determining compensatory selections, the NFL management council utilizes salary, playing time and postseason honors to make its decisions.
NFL teams that lose more or supposedly superior free agents than they acquire are eligible to be given compensatory draft picks.
The total number of picks is set up to equate to the loss of the free agents joining other teams.
The Ravens lost strong safety Dawan Landry to the Jacksonville Jaguars last year on a five-year, $27.5 million contract, center-guard Chris Chester to the Washington Redskins on a five-year, $20 million deal and cornerback Josh Wilson on a five-year, $13.5 million deal, fullback Le’Ron McClain to the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year contract and wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth to the Washington Redskins.
And the Ravens signed fullback Vonta Leach, strong safety Bernard Pollard, offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie and running back Ricky Williams.
Since 1994, no NFL team has been awarded as many compensatory selections as the Ravens’ 33 overall picks.
Team officials have worked at mastering how to factor the formula into some of their decisions on whom to retain and whom to let go.
A year ago, the Ravens were awarded a pair of fifth-round selections that they used to select defensive end Pernell McPhee and cornerback Chykie Brown.
Under the NFL formula, players that are cut from the roster like nose guard Kelly Gregg, tight end Todd Heap, wide receiver Derrick Mason and running back Willis McGahee aren’t factored into the equation.
NOTE: Here are the Ravens’ eight selections: first round (29th overall), second round (60th overall), third round (91st overall), fourth round (130th overall, compensatory), fifth round (155th overall), fifth round (169th, compensatory), sixth round (186th overall), seventh round (218th overall).
