Any interest that the Baltimore Ravens had in free-agent running back LeGarrette Blount was likely squashed because of a move made this week by the Super Bowl champions.
The New England Patriots exercised a little-known rule on Tuesday, which means any team signing Blount would lose a compensatory pick in the league formula. This would preclude the Ravens from signing last year's NFL leader in rushing touchdowns if they don't want to gamble forfeiting a projected third-round pick in the 2018 draft.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Patriots extended a one-year, $1.1 million tender (110 percent of last year's salary) to Blount, an unrestricted free agent. By doing so, Blount would count toward New England's compensatory draft picks if he signs elsewhere before July 22. After that date, he can only sign with the Patriots for the 2017 season.
The Ravens would represent a good fit for Blount. His bruising running style would complement Baltimore's upgraded defense.
But, as OverTheCap.com explains, the Ravens would put their projected third-round pick in jeopardy. Right now, Baltimore is plus-two in the comp pick formula after losing five unrestricted free agents and signing three.
If the Ravens added Blount, this move would cancel out free-agent guard Vladimir Ducasse signing with Buffalo but Baltimore would still get the third-rounder for losing offensive tackle Rick Wagner to Detroit. The problem is, if the Bills cut Ducasse (which is a possibility), the Ravens then would have lost four unrestricted free agents and gained four, which would negate any comp picks for Baltimore. Buffalo can gain a third-rounder by releasing Ducasse, which gives the team even more incentive to do so.
The Ravens have accrued the most comp picks since the system began in 1994. The last time Baltimore didn't have a comp pick in a draft was 2010.
