As the preseason enters the halfway point, it’s becoming clear the Baltimore Ravens will depend on their top-three selections of the 2012 NFL Draft at some point this season. The Ravens had immediate needs at OLB and OL, addressing them with the first two picks. With Ricky Williams abruptly retiring, the Ravens took a RB with their third selection. Through two preseason games, there’s a better understanding of what each player brings to the table.

Top pick: OLB Courtney Upshaw (second round, No. 35 overall) -- There’s no denying Upshaw’s work ethic or football IQ when he’s on the field. But Upshaw's dealt with a sprained shoulder and having to trim his weight since the preseason began. Upshaw wants to play at 270 pounds and has four more to lose to get there. The shoulder injury caused him to miss Baltimore's first preseason game against Atlanta. Upshaw’s slated to be a starter in the regular season, although he saw considerable playing time against Detroit and failed to have a tackle. Grade: B

No. 2 pick: OL Kelechi Osemele (second round, No. 60 overall) -- Osemele arrived in Baltimore with a chip on his shoulder after falling to 60th overall. So far, he’s proved the doubters wrong with his play in practice and in preseason games. He’s penciled in to start at RT and hasn’t made many mistakes in preseason games. Osemele also has worked in at LG as a backup and is playing that position well, too. He's been Baltimore’s best pick of the draft. Grade: A

No. 3 pick: RB Bernard Pierce (third round, No. 84 overall) -- A hamstring injury bothered Pierce early in training camp, but he’s since bounced back and put in some good practice reps this past week. The stats were skewed against Detroit as Pierce finished with four carries for one yard. But he had a 14-yard loss on a halfback toss that saw two missed blocks. Pierce runs tough and refuses to go down on first contact. He also has the strength to move a pile of defenders. Pierce’s style of play couldn’t compliment Ray Rice any better. Grade: B+

Follow Ravens reporter Jason Butt on Twitter: @CBSSportsNFLBAL and @JasonButtCBS.