With the NFL announcing its slate of compensatory picks last week and the Morgan Moses trade becoming official, the Ravens are now scheduled to make nine picks in the 2024 draft.
In addition to being awarded a compensatory pick for the free-agent departure of guard Ben Powers last offseason, general manager Eric DeCosta netted an extra sixth-round pick in dealing Moses to the New York Jets, giving the Ravens nine selections after they made only six in last year’s draft. That was their lowest total since a six-man draft class in 2009.
“We’ve moved up a little bit in the fourth [round], which I think is going to be advantageous for us,” said DeCosta, referencing the swap of fourth-round selections in the Moses trade. “Moving from the bottom of the fourth to the top third of the fourth round should [result in] a better player. I do see opportunity for us to get back at the draft. Last year was kind of lean with the draft in terms of the amount of picks that we had. I think this year will be a good chance for us to kind of augment the roster with good, young, cheap, talented football players.”
Baltimore will need those picks after losing a number of veteran depth pieces in free agency this week and still having holes to fill on both sides of the ball.
Here’s where the Ravens are scheduled to pick in next month’s draft:
First round: 30th overall
Second round: 62nd overall
Third round: 93rd overall
Fourth round: 113th overall
Fourth round: 130th overall
Fifth round: 165th overall
Sixth round: 218th overall
Seventh round: 228th overall
Seventh round: 250th overall
And just for a fun — or not so much, in some cases — trip down memory lane, below is a look at past players selected by Baltimore in each of those scheduled spots (or as close as possible):
30th overall: G Ben Grubbs (29th, 2007), TE Todd Heap (31st, 2001), OLB Odafe Oweh (31st, 2021)
Skinny: With three openings on Baltimore’s present offensive line, you could do much worse than Grubbs, who became a quality starter early in his rookie season and went on to make two Pro Bowls over a nine-year NFL career. Of course, Heap was a two-time Pro Bowl tight end and inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2014, making him one of the better late first-round picks in franchise history.
62nd overall: DB Gary Baxter (2001)
Skinny: After losing safety Geno Stone and cornerback Ronald Darby in free agency, the Ravens could certainly benefit from adding a versatile secondary piece comparable to Baxter, who started games at both cornerback and safety over four seasons in Baltimore. Adding another corner is a must with Brandon Stephens entering a contract year and Marlon Humphrey coming off an injury-plagued season.
93rd overall: WR Miles Boykin (2019)
Skinny: Considering Zay Flowers is the only wide receiver currently under contract beyond 2024, Baltimore taking a wideout at some point over the first few rounds would be a logical if not necessary move. Of course, Boykin was one of many disappointing wide receivers reflecting the organization’s only real blindspot in the draft over the years.
113th overall: RB Justice Hill (2019)
Skinny: Derrick Henry is 30, Keaton Mitchell is unlikely to be ready for at least the start of the 2024 campaign, and Hill is entering a contract year, so the Ravens targeting a running back on the final day of the draft wouldn’t be surprising. After dealing with some injuries earlier in his career, Hill is coming off his best season and accumulated nearly 600 total yards of offense.
130th overall: S Christian Thompson (2012), FB Kyle Juszczyk (2013), G Alex Lewis (2016), P Jordan Stout (2022)
Skinny: While Juszczyk — who’s made eight Pro Bowls between Baltimore and San Francisco — is easily the most accomplished of the four players selected at this spot, Lewis was a rare fourth-round offensive lineman talented enough to start games as a rookie before injuries derailed his career. That kind of mid-round hit would be great for an offensive line undergoing much change this offseason.
165th overall: OLB/DE Pernell McPhee (2011)
Skinny: McPhee proved to be one of the better fifth-round picks in franchise history as he played a combined seven seasons over two stints with the organization and helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII. Such a late-round steal would be helpful as Baltimore looks to beef up its group of edge rushers for the 2024 season.
218th overall: WR Michael Campanaro (2014)
Skinny: Relative to where he was selected, the River Hill product had a couple decent moments as a receiver and punt returner, but he could never stay healthy and ultimately finished his career with 31 receptions and four touchdowns over four seasons.
228th overall: G Andrew Vorhees (229th, 2023)
Skinny: Last year, DeCosta traded a 2024 sixth-round pick to Cleveland to select Vorhees, whom many expected to be a mid-round pick before he suffered a torn ACL working out at the scouting combine. We’ll see if the long-term move pays off with the Ravens having both starting guard spots up for grabs this offseason.
250th overall: C Mike Mabry (2003)
Skinny: I could tell you about Mike Macdonald, Mike McCrary, or even Mike Mayock, but I have no recollection of Mabry, who was released at the end of his rookie preseason and bounced around a few NFL practice squads before spending several years playing arena football. Only one player — safety Antwoine Sanders at 258th in that same draft — has been selected by the Ravens with a later pick.
