Eric DeCosta reveals rare past incentive that fueled Ravens scouting

The Baltimore Ravens have built one of the NFL's most respected scouting departments. Stories like the following help explain why. During Eric DeCosta and Jesse Minter's recent press conference, the general manager pulled back the curtain on a lesser-known practice from earlier days inside the organization.

At one point, Ravens scouts were offered cash bonuses for identifying undrafted free agents who ultimately made the team's final roster. Yes, actual cash. Right about now, you're probably thinking about several times when you might have been able to earn a bonus of your own. It wasn't about cutting corners or buying success. It was about motivation. The Ravens have long prided themselves on finding talent where others aren't looking, and this was one way to sharpen that edge. If a scout pounded the table for a player after the draft and that player stuck, they were rewarded for it.

Perhaps the Ravens should revisit this same strategy, moving forward?

This isn't one of those stories that will make SportsCenter's lineup. It won't lead on all of those sports debate shows, but it's fascinating. Think about what type of environment this creates. Every undrafted free agent becomes more than just a name on a list. They become a challenge. They become a competition, a chance for scouts to prove their eye for talent in a way that directly impacts the roster.

In Baltimore, those margins matter. The Ravens have built their identity on depth, development, and the discovery of contributors beyond the obvious. Undrafted players have played real roles in that formula over the years, and incentivizing scouts to dig deeper only reinforces that mindset. It also says something about how the organization thinks. This isn't a franchise that relies solely on first-round picks to carry them. They believe in the entire process, from top to bottom. Every evaluation matters. Every conversation matters. Every overlooked prospect matters.

The bonus system may no longer be in place, but the philosophy behind it hasn’t gone anywhere. Be very encouraged about the Ravens' future because in Baltimore, finding hidden gems isn’t luck. It’s an expectation.