Not to be lost in the discussion of the Ravens’ recent free-agent losses: they went through the same thing last offseason.
In 2012, the Ravens lost offensive guard Ben Grubbs, outside linebacker Jarret Johnson and four other contributors in free agency. On the other side of the ledger, Baltimore added safety Sean Considine and cornerback Corey Graham -- players best known, to that point, for their special-teams work.
Well, Graham ended up being much more than a coverage ace. His play on defense was a revelation, a boost to the secondary after corner Lardarius Webb left the lineup. And while the Ravens could have used some of the players they had lost in the offseason . . . well, Baltimore managed pretty well in the end.
Moreover, the Ravens will get some 2013 draft picks for their troubles. The NFL announced Monday that Baltimore will receiver four compensatory selections in April’s draft. Only the Falcons, who lost four free agents and signed none, will get as many compensatory selections.
Per NFL rules, a maximum of four compensatory picks can be awarded to a team for their net free-agent losses in a given offseason. Compensatory picks are distributing using a metric tied to playing time, salary and postseason awards garnered by the departed free agents. Compensatory selections cannot be traded.
The highest compensatory selection will go to Houston (Round Three, No. 95 overall), which lost Mario Williams to Buffalo last March. The Chiefs (No. 96) and Titans (No. 97) also received third-round selections.
Here’s the complete rundown of 2013 compensatory picks:
Atlanta Falcons (four picks): one fourth-rounder (No. 133), three seventh-rounders (Nos. 243, 244, 249).
Baltimore Ravens (four): one fourth-rounder (No. 130), one-fifth-rounder (No. 168), one sixth-rounder (No. 203), one seventh-rounder (No. 247).
Tennessee Titans (three): one third-rounder (No. 97), one sixth-rounder (No. 202), one seventh-rounder (N0. 248).
San Francisco 49ers (three): one fourth-rounder (No. 131), two seventh-rounders (Nos. 246, 252).
Houston Texans (two): one third-rounder (No. 95), one sixth-rounder (No. 201).
Kansas City Chiefs (two): one third-rounder (No. 96), one sixth-rounder (No. 2o4).
Detroit Lions (two): one fourth-rounder (No. 132), one seventh-rounder (No. 245).
Miami Dolphins (two): one fifth-rounder (No. 166), one seventh-rounder (No. 250).
Cincinnati Bengals (two): two seventh-rounders (Nos. 240, 251).
Seattle Seahawks (two): two seventh-rounders (Nos. 241, 242).
Green Bay Packers (one): a fifth-rounder (No. 167).
Oakland Raiders (one): a sixth-rounder (No. 205).
Pittsburgh Steelers (one): a sixth-rounder (No. 206).
Philadelphia Eagles (one): a seventh-rounder (No. 239).
New York Giants (one): a seventh-rounder (No. 253).
Indianapolis Colts (one): a seventh-rounder (No. 254).