The Baltimore Ravens may have succeeded in the draft in spite of themselves.

After talking about trading down for weeks, they stayed in the fourth spot and got the pass rusher they wanted when they selected Peter Boulware.

They then got a bonus when another pass rusher, linebacker Jamie Sharper, fell to them on the second round.

It means they've upgraded their defense by adding three pass rushers in the last two weeks. They signed Michael McCrary as a free agent less than two weeks ago.

They also may have found three rookie starters in the draft because safety Kim Herring, a second round pick, has a chance to start.

McCrary's signing means Boulware will have to switch from end to linebacker, but he doesn't think that will be a problem.

"It's just a matter of learning different techniques. I feel it will be a smooth transition. I think I have the body to play it,'' he said.

Defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis said, "There wasn't a way to trade down and get a guy who would be out there for three downs. We will play Peter as a linebacker in our regular set and at end in the nickel and dime.''

Coach Ted Marchibroda said, "As the week wound down, we felt the right way to go was to keep the fourth pick because we would be getting an excellent defensive player. I don't think there's any question he was the best athlete available at this stage of the draft and at the same time it addresses a big need for us.''

The Ravens had just 30 sacks last year, tied for fourth-lowest in the league. Boulware had 19 last year at Florida State.

All the talk about trading down raised speculation that the cash-strapped Ravens couldn't afford to take the fourth pick.

But owner Art Modell said, "Despite all the stories about cap problems, they are non-existent. We got ourselves a great football player.''

The Ravens, though, are being charged about $7 million under the cap this year for players who are no longer on the team.

It may not be easy to get Boulware in camp, either, because his agent, Eugene Parker, who also represents Deion Sanders, is likely to want to match the $6.79 million signing bonus that they gave Jonathan Ogden with the fourth pick last year. It was the highest signing bonus in the draft.

The Ravens insist that was a special situation because they didn't want to have a holdout in their first year in a new city.

But if they don't at least match it, they'll have to deal with a holdout in the second year in the new city.

Those problems are for the future. For now, they were just happy to get Boulware.

Lewis also thinks the new players will give the team a new look. He's made it obvious he didn't like the attitude on last year's team.

"We've added some guys who like football, first of all,'' he said.

When he was asked if that was a problem last year, he said, "An underlying problem. How many guys did we have who wanted to work hard and get better and how many were just here. I don't know. We had guys who didn't like it here. I know that and this is like any other job. If you don't like where you are you're probably not going to perform.''

Boulware and Sharper got the draft off to a great start and the Ravens wound up with 12 picks. As expected, eight were on defense, the biggest need of concern. They also added two running backs, a quarterback and a center.

After an off-season in which the Ravens were frequently frustrated, this draft could give them a jump-start.

ROUND-BY-ROUND ANALYSIS

Round 1/4 -- Peter Boulware, LB, Florida State

Boulware had 10 sacks in 1995 even though he started only two games and had 19 last year plus 20 tackles for losses, four fumbles caused and three fumbles recovered. He is excellent at rushing the passer off the corner. He does have a withered ligament in his knee, but it has never caused him any problems. This pick got the draft off to a good start.

Round 2/34 -- Jamie Sharper, LB, Virginia

Teams always say they are surprised that a player falls to them. In Sharper's case, though, nobody doubts it's true. He was expected to go on the first round after having 123 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, four fumble recoveries and an interception. He's a durable, fast player, but he needs to play with more intensity. Sharper will be expected to start and the team now no longer plans to re-sign Anthony Pleasant.

Round 2/58 -- Kim Herring, S, Penn State

Came back from knee surgery in 1994 to start every game the next two seasons. Last year, he intercepted seven passes, broke up 14 more and made 79 tackles. This was a need pick because the Ravens have an opening at safety after letting Eric Turner go and failing to sign Brock Marion. He has a chance to start at free safety.

Round 3/64 -- Jay Graham, RB, Tennessee

After having a good season in 1995 when he rushed for 1,438 yards, Graham slumped last year behind a new offensive line and gained only 797 yards He also had some problems with fumbles. This is a need pick because they need another back behind Bam Morris.

Round 4/118 -- Tyrus McCloud, MLB, Louisville

Started every game the past four seasons and was the best middle linebacker in the draft. He's a two-down player, a top run stuffer who is not good at coverage. He gives them depth behind Ray Lewis, who is a fast, agile middle linebacker, but not a run-stuffer type.

Round 5/134 -- Jeff Mitchell, C, Florida

After starting every game in 1994, he missed spring practice getting his knee scoped and then came back to start before breaking his left ankle in November. He's an average athlete with a lot of intangibles. This is a need pick because they need depth at center after losing Steve Everitt.

Round 6/167 -- RB Steve Lee, RB, Indiana

He's strictly a blocker who carried the ball only nine times in 1996. But this is another need pick because the Ravens need a fullback after losing Carwell Gardner to the Chargers.

Round 6/194 -- Cornell Brown, Virginia Tech

The younger brother of Buffalo guard Ruben Brown, he was a four year starter although he had some off the field problems last year and missed three games with a knee injury. He's basically a pass rusher and the Ravens figure they can't have too many even after getting Boulware and Sharper.

Round 7/205 -- Chris Ward, DE, Kentucky

Started all but two games the past two years, he had 10.5 1-2 sacks and can rush the passer. He's worth a flyer on the seventh round.

Round 7/234 -- Wally Richardson, QB, 6-4, 222,Penn State

He started every game the last two years and was 20-5 as a starter, but he tailed off somewhat in his senior year. He'll challenge Scott Otis for the third-string quarterback job.

Round 7/236 -- Ralph Staten, S, Alabama

He played linebacker for Alabama, but the Ravens will try him as a safety because he's too small to be a linebacker. He'll play special teams while making the transition.

Round 7/238 -- Leland Taylor, DT, Louisville

Started off at Tennessee, but transferred to Louisville after some off the field problems reportedly involving a telephone credit card scandal. Started the last two years and has a shot because of his size.