April 26, 2012|Mike Preston
After New England traded up with Denver in the first round to secure the No. 25 overall pick and select Alabama inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower, there was a strong possibility the Ravens were going to trade out of the first round at No. 29.
It was a good move by the Ravens.
The Ravens traded their 29th pick to the Minnesota Vikings, and got the Vikings' No. 35 pick overall (second round) and their No. 98 pick (fourth round). They now have two picks in the second round and two in the fourth round.
As the first round came to a close, the Ravens had to be smiling because there are a number of players they value who are still available. The list includes Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw, Georgia guard Cordy Glenn, Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill, Wisconsin center Peter Konz and Mississippi offensive tackle Bobby Massie.
Of course, there is the frustration from fans. It's understandable. Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome and his front office staff kept them waiting most of the night, and the Ravens came away with nothing.
It's like waiting for Christmas morning, and then finding nothing under the tree.
But the Ravens will make out fine because they now have an additional pick, can fill certain holes and do it all a little cheaper because they don't have to pay first-round money.
The Ravens have needs at outside linebacker — a pass rusher to complement Terrell Suggs — and they can still come away with Upshaw, one of the best in college a year ago.
The Ravens' offensive line is hurting, but beginning Friday night, they might be able to snag a quality offensive lineman like Glenn or Konz, and add a quality receiver such as Mohamed Sanu from Rutgers or South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery.
When you can still draft this kind of talent, you trade down.
Hightower?
I liked this kid before the draft, and I like him even more now that New England coach Bill Belichick drafted him at No. 25 after the Patriots traded with the Broncos.
Maybe in another year, the Ravens could have made a similar deal, but not this year. They've already lost offensive guard Ben Grubbs, outside linebacker Jarret Johnson and defensive end Cory Redding through free agency, not to mention backup safeties Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura.
Pro Bowl inside linebacker Ray Lewis is about to begin his 17th season, and both starting safeties, Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard, are in the final years of their contracts.
For the 2012 Ravens, this draft isn't just about filling holes, but stockpiling for the future as well. There is still a possibility that the Ravens might make another trade early, get another pick and move back again.
If these were the Cleveland Browns or the Detroit Lions of several years ago, there would be some concern. But the Ravens have been one of the NFL's best drafting teams since moving to Baltimore for the 1996 season, so there is no need to doubt them now.
Few of the so-called draft experts ever agree on which players will be taken by certain teams in the first round, but most of them believe the 2012 draft is deep.
And on Thursday night, the Ravens agreed with them. It might pay off big for them in three or four years.
mike.preston@baltsun.com
