Space is at a premium these days in the Ravens' locker room.

An extra row of metal lockers has been added to the middle of the room to accommodate the 26 rookies who arrived in Baltimore this week. After meeting some of their new teammates, the rookie class was quickly thrown into the fire with team meetings, physicals, equipment fitting and practice.

"It's like a fire hose coming at you," veteran tight end Dennis Pitta said. "You just try to help those guys out as much as you can. We've all been in their shoes."

The veterans have been able to get their first impressions of the rookie class, but the interactions are still somewhat limited because the two groups are on different schedules. NFL rules are also more limiting for the amount of time veterans can practice. 

Veterans and rookies are able to go through some drills together on the field, and they also get time together in the meeting rooms. Pitta has already started to build a relationship with new third-round tight end Crockett Gillmore, who will likely be another key tight end for the offense.

"He's a great guy and I think he'll fit in well with us," Pitta said. "He's a big physical player and he catches the ball well. We're excited to have him."

Running back Bernard Pierce has been impressed with fourth-round pick Lorenzo Taliaferro from Coastal Carolina.

"With the new system and everything, I think the rookies are coming along pretty well," Pierce said. "Lorenzo looks pretty good and he's actually running very fast.  He's definitely getting it a lot faster than I did my rookie year.

"It's always nice to have another newcomer in the room. At the end of the day it's all about competition. Everybody is going to be pushing each other so we're going to be out there working hard."

Most of the interaction between rookies and veterans right now comes at the position group level during their meetings, and the on-field portion of workouts will pick up later this month when OTA's begin. 

"Another young guy is great. [Third-round pick Terrence Brooks is] another young guy to come in here and compete and grow as a player," safety Jeromy Miles said. "They come in and they're thirsty for knowledge. We tell them, you're not going to make the team today. We tell them to take in as much as possible but not to put too much pressure on themselves."