OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens continued their trend of beefing up their front seven with the selection of Ohio State defensive end John Simon in the fourth round.
Taken with the 129th overall pick, Simon is considered a high-motor guy and is listed at 6-foot-2 and 257 pounds. He will likely serve as an outside linebacker and pass-rush specialist in the Ravens’ 3-4 base defense.
“They are just a tough, hard-nosed team, and I feel that’s how I play the game,” Simon said in a conference call with Baltimore media. “I am just really excited to be part of the organization and look forward to getting to practice.”
A three-year starter for the Buckeyes, Simon finished with 20 1/2 sacks in his career and was named the Big Ten’s 2012 Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year. He led the conference in sacks (nine) and tackles for loss (14 1/2) in 2012.
Regarded highly by Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, Simon said he met with the Ravens at the scouting combine and felt good about the conversations he had with them leading up to this weekend’s draft. He will likely find himself competing for situation playing time behind pass rushers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil as well as outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw.
“I am going to do whatever it takes to do the best I can and to help the team out in any way possible,” Simon said. “Whatever the role is, I am going to just embrace it and do everything I can to be the best possible player for the Baltimore Ravens I can be.”
The Ohio State defensive lineman was dealing with a shoulder injury earlier in the offseason, but he declared himself 100 percent and ready to go after being drafted by Baltimore.
Simon became the fourth straight defensive player to be taken in the 2013 draft by Baltimore before Harvard fullback Kyle Juszczyk was taken with the next pick at 130th overall.
