Patrick Mekari signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He lined up at all four positions in college and added center versatility in Baltimore. That came in handy amid the Ravens’ injuries and inconsistency at the position during the early Lamar Jackson years. Mekari started 10 games at center in the first two years of his deal – though he had some snapping issues of his own – with three at right guard.
Mekari was bumped out to right tackle in 2021 to fill in for Orlando
Brown Jr., who had flipped to the blind side after Ronnie Stanley’s season-ending injury. The Ravens gave Mekari a three-year, $15.45 million extension at the end of the year, which turned out to be an incredible value. Stanley’s extended, stop-start recovery process forced Mekari into starts at both tackle spots in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, he began the season at right tackle before giving way to second-round pick Roger Rosengarten and replacing an injured Andrew Voorhees at left guard.
Mekari was bumped out to right tackle in 2021 to fill in for Orlando Brown Jr., who had flipped to the blind side after Ronnie Stanley’s season-ending injury. The Ravens gave Mekari a three-year, $15.45 million extension at the end of the year, which turned out to be an incredible value. Stanley’s extended, stop-start recovery process forced Mekari into starts at both tackle spots in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, he began the season at right tackle before giving way to second-round pick Roger Rosengarten and replacing an injured Andrew Voorhees at left guard.
But then, Mekhari left and the Ravens got a compensatory pick. So let’s see what happened there.
How did the Ravens receive a compensatory pick for Patrick Mekari?
A solid showing in pass protection (one sack allowed, per Pro Football Focus) earned Mekari a three-year, $37.5 million deal from the Jaguars in free agency.
How did Patrick Mekari play for the Jaguars?
He started 14 games at right guard in Jacksonville last year, but did not play quite as well as he did in Baltimore.
Meanwhile, once the comp pick formula dust settled, the Ravens received a fifth-round compensatory pick (No. 174) for Mekari’s departure.
How did the Ravens use the compensatory pick from Brandon Stephens?
When the Ravens use pick 174, we will update.
What is a compensatory pick?
Compensatory picks are awarded to teams that suffer a net loss of qualifying free agents during the previous year’s free agency period. So 2026 NFL Draft compensatory picks are awarded due to free agents lost in 2025.
Then those players are ranked on the amount of salary, playing time, and a bunch of other criteria and slotted into the end of rounds three through seven.
