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Because of the depth on the Ravens' roster, none of the team's recent draft picks are expected to have a starting job waiting for them when the 2010 season begins.
But that doesn't mean that they won't have an immediate on-field impact.
Many of the players recently selected by GM Ozzie Newsome are expected to see plenty of playing time on special teams, an aspect of the game upon which head coach John Harbaugh, a former special teams coach, places heavy value.
We saw last year how a high draft pick's inability to play special teams can severely limit his chance at playing time. Paul Kruger was a second-round pick, but he didn't have special teams experience, which led to him being active for only nine games last season.
The Ravens won't have the same scenario with Sergio Kindle, a second-round pick this year.
"[Kindle] was a very good special teamer early in his career at Texas," Newsome said. "That's one of the questions we asked him at the Combine, and he lit up when talked about special teams."
The Ravens see Kindle as the perfect special teams player because of his strength, speed and willingness to create contact. He was productive in that aspect early in his career at Texas, making 14 special teams tackles and adding a blocked kick.
"Sergio Kindle's going to be able to run down the field on kickoffs," Harbaugh said. "He's a physical, hard-hitting kind of guy, and he's fast and he's big and he likes to play."
At 350 pounds, Terrence Cody won't be sprinting down the field on kickoff coverage or retuning punts (although that would be pretty entertaining to watch), but the Ravens other second-round pick will have his niche on special teams as well.
"He can block field goals," Harbaugh said. "He can run over offensive linemen - he's done that in the past."
The two tight ends that the Ravens selected, Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta, both could hear their numbers called quite often on special teams as well. Both guys check in at about 6-4, 245-250 pounds, and that size combined with their athleticism makes them prime special teams targets.
"Ed Dickson, he's a tight end that can really run, and he's athletic," Harbaugh said. "Pitta's the same way - he can run, he's athletic, he's a big, rangy guy. He can cover kicks and stuff."
Then there's David Reed, the first of the Ravens' two fifth-round picks. Reed returned kickoffs during his junior season at Utah, and posted an impressive 25.4 yard average on that area.
Reed had the kickoff return responsibilities lifted during his senior season because the coaching staff viewed him too valuable to the offense to risk on special teams, but the Ravens believe he will be in the mix for the Ravens' kickoff returner job during training camp.
Special teams might not be an aspect that thrills most fans, but it's one that Harbaugh and the coaching staff value, and in this year's draft class, they will find plenty of players who are able to contribute in that area.
"What's exciting to me," Harbaugh said, "[is] that you've got a bunch of guys that bring something to the table as far as size and speed that can play special teams."
