John Simon to Ravens: How Does Defensive End Fit with Baltimore?

John Simon, a two-time captain at Ohio State, was selected by the Ravens with the 129th pick in the draft. Simon was very productive in his time at OSU and became the fourth-straight defensive player taken by the Ravens in the draft.

Role:

Simon will play outside linebacker in Baltimore, and will be added to the rotation of Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil and Courtney Upshaw. Simon is a limited athlete, but is a good pass-rusher and solid run defender. He disengages from blocks well and has a tremendous work ethic. He's known as a workout warrior, but he played with his hand in the dirt and I'm not sure how comfortable he'll be in space and coverage.

Simon may not get a lot of play as a rookie due to the talent of the players in front of him, but he'll be able to contribute on special teams and will develop into a solid player for the Ravens over time.

Early Projection:

Simon is viewed as a similar player to former Raven Jarrett Johnson. He's not great in space, but he's got a tremendous work ethic and motor. He'll probably never be a star, but he can develop into a player who gets significant playing time. The Ravens might also be looking toward the future with this pick. Terrell Suggs has a very large cap hit for the 2014 season and the Ravens might have to part ways with him then, especially if he doesn't return to form after suffering a partial Achilles tear last spring.

Simon will likely become a fan favorite and was a solid value pick for Baltimore at the end of the fourth round.