OWINGS MILLS — The Ravens have the 30th overall pick in the NFL Draft for the first time in franchise history.
The Ravens were slotted into that position after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, 17-10, in the AFC Championship Game.
In addition to the 30th pick, the Ravens have six other selections — second round (62nd overall), third round (93rd), fourth round (13oth and 133rd), fifth round (163rd), and seventh round (225th and 247th).
The Ravens also will get an additional compensatory selection in the fourth round for the loss of free-agent guard Ben Powers last offseason.
The team’s biggest needs are on the offensive line, running back, wide receiver and defensive line.
The Ravens have 22 unrestricted free agents, so this draft could be essential in filling holes on the roster. The team has found key playmakers while making picks at the bottom of the first round.
The team selected quarterback Lamar Jackson with the 32nd pick in the 2018 draft, tight end Todd Heap with the 31st selection in 2001, and linebacker Patrick Queen with the 28th pick in 2020.
General manager Eric DeCosta said the Ravens have always looked to build the infrastructure of their roster through the draft and this year won’t be any different.
“Fundamentally, we are always going to be focused on the draft,” DeCosta said last Friday at the season-ending press conference with coach John Harbaugh. “I mean, look at our history. Now, in the last couple of years, we have traded draft picks for players, in some cases, but generally, we’re going to be a draft-centric team, and as we’ve said, the landscape has changed a little bit, because we’re paying a quarterback – who deserves it – a lot of money, and that’s going to have a salary cap ramification for sure.
“We’ll start to feel that. We started to feel that last year. We’ll feel that this year, as do a lot of teams, so draft picks are very important to us and will continue to be very important.”
2024 NFL first found draft order and overall record
1. Chicago Bears (7-10 —via trade with Panthers)
2. Washington Commanders (4-13)
3. New England Patriots (4-13)
4. Arizona Cardinals (4-13)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (5-12)
6. New York Giants (6-11)
7. Tennessee Titans (6-11)
8. Atlanta Falcons (7-10)
9. Chicago Bears (7-10)
10. New York Jets (7-10)
11. Minnesota Vikings (7-10)
12. Denver Broncos (8-9)
13. Las Vegas Raiders (8-9)
14. New Orleans Saints (9-8)
15. Indianapolis Colts (9-8)
16. Seattle Seahawks (9-8)
17. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)
18. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
19. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
21. Miami Dolphins (11-6)
22. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
23. Houston Texans (via trade with Browns)
24. Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
25. Green Bay Packers (9-8)
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8)
27. Arizona Cardinals (4-13, via trade with Texans)
28. Buffalo Bills (11-6)
29. Detroit Lions (12-5)
30. Baltimore Ravens (13-4)
31. Kansas City Chiefs (11-6) *
32. San Francisco 49ers (12-5) *
* Subject to change pending Super Bowl outcome