The Baltimore Ravens were the only team in the AFC North to not improve their team in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. However, they will certainly have their chances in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the draft later today. At the same time, their division rivals all made excellent moves to improve their teams and the Ravens will be seeing all of these players at least twice in the 2012 season.
Both the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals had two picks in the first round. The Browns picked up Alabama RB Trent Richardson with the 3rd overall pick and then came back to get a possible replacement for QB Colt McCoy in Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden in the 22nd spot.
The Bengals grabbed Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick with the 17th pick and then improved their offensive line with a player rumored to be targeted by the Ravens in Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler in the 27th slot. The Pittsburgh Steelers needed help in protecting QB Ben Roethlisberger and just couldn't pass up the chance to get a guy thought to be long gone by the time they drafted in Stanford guard David DeCastro.
The Ravens will have to make strides to keep up with their division rivals, but knowing how well GM Ozzie Newsome works his magic at this time of year, there is no lack of confidence at One Winning Drive at Ravens HQ, much less in the minds of the team's fans.