OWINGS MILLS -- The Baltimore Ravens didn't hit all of their targets in the NFL draft as acquiring a top-flight pass rusher eluded their grasp.

So, they will probably address the shortcoming whenever the labor impasse is resolved and free agency kicks off.

"If we could get the opportunity to put ourselves in the position to get someone else," general manager Ozzie Newsome said, "we would probably be looking at it very seriously."

The Ravens recorded a franchise-worst 27 sacks last season, including 11 sacks from Pro Bowl outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and another 5 1/2 from Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. Other than their contribution, the pass rush was virtually nonexistent.

So, the Ravens are expected to explore a veteran free agent class that includes outside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka and Manny Lawson and defensive ends Cullen Jenkins and Shaun Ellis.

The Ravens wound up drafting Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith in the first round rather than go with pass rushers like Da'Quan Bowers, Cameron Heyward, Muhammad Wilkerson, Akeem Ayers and Brooks Reed.

Then, the Ravens had their eye on Fresno State outside linebacker Chris Carter, whom they interviewed at the NFL scouting combine. However, he was picked by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round two picks before their pair of compensatory selections.

If the Ravens had acquired an extra fourth-round pick from the Chicago Bears in a botched trade that left Baltimore team officials furious at their NFC North counterparts, they might have been able to draft a pass rusher in that round.

"If there would have been someone that we thought could have come in and been a productive rusher for us, then we would have definitely drafted them," Newsome said. "We tried to draft a couple of them, but they got picked. One got picked one pick before us, two picks before us."

The Ravens did wind up with Mississippi State defensive end Pernell McPhee, an All-Southeastern Conference selection who recorded 32 1/2 sacks at Itawamba Junior College.

McPhee posted 91 tackles and seven sacks with 22 tackles for losses, 20 quarterback pressures and two forced fumbles in two seasons at Mississippi State.

"Anytime you can find someone that has an ability to rush the passer, he brings value to us," Newsome said.

At Itawamba Junior College after he was unable to enroll at Southern Miss due to academic issues out of high school, the 6-foot-3, 280-pounder had 22 quarterback pressures as a sophomore and 73 1/2 tackles for losses in two seasons.

He chose Mississippi State over Alabama and LSU.

"We think he can get bigger to be more of a 3-4 end, but what we like about him is he's relentless, plays very hard," Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta said. "We had the chance to see him down at the Senior Bowl, and there were stretches when he had his way with some of the better tackles in the draft down there.

"We just like his motor, his mentality; he can rush the passer. There was a lot of upside there. Has over 30 career sacks at JC, which is attractive to us as well. We think this is a kid who has a lot of upside and who can get a lot better."