OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Todd Heap, the Baltimore Ravens' top pick in the NFL draft Saturday, will spend his first pro season learning from one of the finest tight ends in the history of the game.
If all goes as planned, the student will ultimately replace the teacher at one of the key positions in coach Brian Billick's pass-happy offense.
The Super Bowl champions waited more than 4½ hours to take Heap, a 6-foot-4 tight end from Arizona State. The Ravens will exercise similar patience in bringing along the 31st and final pick of the first round.
Heap will initially serve as a backup to Shannon Sharpe, honing his game behind the Ravens' outstanding 32-year-old tight end. Then, one day, Sharpe will step aside and let Heap make a name for himself.
"What a great opportunity for Todd Heap to come in and be mentored by one of the great tight ends in the game. It's just a great scenario for us, and for him," Billick said.
"Even Shannon understands that there's a finite limit to how long anybody's going to play," Billick said. "This is a perfect place for us to bring in a young guy behind a future Hall of Famer."
The Ravens refused to speculate on the future of veteran Ben Coates, who backed up Sharpe last season. But Billick indicated that Heap would be used on special teams and see limited time with the first-team offense.
With their second pick, 62nd overall, the Ravens took defensive back Gary Baxter of Baylor. Baxter, a 6-1, 202-pounder, had 96 tackles at right cornerback as a senior last year to cap a career in which he recorded 202 tackles and six interceptions.
"He's got the speed to play at corner, but will compete at safety in his first year," said Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis, adding that Baxter has enough speed and talent to immediately become part of the team's nickel package.
"He was, no doubt in my mind, the best athlete on the board," said vice president of player personnel Ozzie Newsome.
The Ravens fortified their thin offensive line in the third round, taking Wisconsin center Casey Rabach with the 92nd overall pick.
Baltimore never had a winning season before its Super Bowl run, so picking late in the first round was a new experience. As the other teams made their selections, the Ravens began to lean toward choosing a tight end. When the time came, Newsome decided on Heap over Alge Crumpler of North Carolina.
Newsome, a Hall of Fame tight end, gave the edge to Heap because of his speed.
"Now we've got another weapon that can get downfield and be a factor," Newsome said. "Todd has shown the ability to make plays, and I think that's what separated him. But it wasn't by that much. We would have been very happy to be sitting here and have Crumpler as our tight end."
Heap left Arizona State after a junior season in which he caught 48 passes for 644 yards and three touchdowns. In three seasons he set a school record for catches by a tight end, compiling 88 receptions for 1,685 yards and 10 TDs.
Those numbers are impressive, but Heap expects to sharpen his game through instruction from Sharpe, who has gathered three Super Bowl rings during his 11 seasons.
The Ravens entered the draft looking to add depth on the offensive line, at tight end and in the defensive backfield. Heap was the Ravens' highest-rated player on the board at No. 31, so Newsome grabbed him.
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