2013 NFL Draft is complete!
The Ravens had another solid draft this year in 2013. Defense was a priority and they came away with some solid players; we covered the first three selections in detail in an earlier post. First round pick Safety Matt Elam and second rounder Inside Linebacker Arthur Brown look to be immediate starters. And the third round pick, DT Brandon Williams could be an impact player in his rookie year too.
Day 2 & 3 Selections:
At first I was skeptical of the 4th round pick, fullback from Harvard, in Kyle Juszczyk. Yet, the more I read and find out about him, the more I like. He’s a versatile athlete with speed for his size and can line-up at tight-end, H-back and fullback. I’m curious to see how offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell uses Juszczyk in the offense.
Receiver?
There’s been some chattering that the team did not find a receiver to fill in the void left by Anquan Boldin. In reality, it’s tough to replace Boldin in the draft. Even if you select a top receiver, you can’t replace Boldin’s production. The story however is unfinished. Ravens have depth at receiver and don’t forget there will be some names released by other teams.
In round seven, the team did pick Aaron Mellette, WR, Elon. Round seven seems developmental, however, many analysts felt Mellette would go earlier in the draft, such as round four. He is 6-2, 217 lbs and his forty time is 4.54.
Great value:
Speaking of great value, the final selection of Baltimore’s draft was cornerback Marc Anthony, CB, California. He was another player that could be viewed as a steal. He was projected to be a mid-round selection.
Another excellent value pick:
It seems like Defensive End John Simon is getting a lot of fantastic reviews. Some fans think Simon is going to be like Kruger or the next Jarret Johnson. There’s even some a liking him to OLB James Harrison. In addition to his skills, his leadership is a plus. “Despite being hampered by a knee injury that limited him to just 11 games in 2012, Simon was named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year with 44 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and a career-high nine sacks. On more than one occasion, the high-effort Simon was characterized by Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer as the “heart and soul” of the team.”
Taking A Calculated Risk:
Kapron Lewis-Moore, defensive end, Notre Dame was taken in the 6th round. The fact is he might not even make the field as he is recovering from an ACL injury (repaired). The fact is the Ravens saw something in him and he was a starter for the Irish and a force for the defense–a big time contributor. Plus, he is 6-4 and weighs 298.
Offensive line?
One legitimate concern is offensive line. Specifically, how the team will address left tackle. Will McKinnie return? Will Osemele take over? Will Oher be given another shot? Or, will the team find veteran free agent that may be released from another team?
What I do like is that the team addressed offensive line with Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin. He was the starting left tackle and while many experts suggest he’ll move inside to guard, or at right tackle, there is tremendous upside. And you can’t go wrong drafting a Mid-West offensive lineman; Wisconsin is known for solid line players. They also selected Ryan Jensen, C/OT, Colorado State-Pueblo in round six.
Complete List of the 2013 Ravens Drafted Players:
Round 1, Pick 32 (32): Matt Elam, S, Florida
Round 2, Pick 24 (56) (from Seahawks): Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State
Round 3, Pick 32 (94): Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri Southern State
Round 4, Pick 32 (129): John Simon, DE, Ohio State
Round 4, Pick 33 (130) (Compensatory Selection): Kyle Juszczyk, FB, Harvard
Round 5, Pick 35 (168) (Compensatory Selection): Ricky Wagner, OT, Wisconsin
Round 6, Pick 32 (200): Kapron Lewis-Moore, DE, Notre Dame
Round 6, Pick 35 (203) (Compensatory Selection): Ryan Jensen, OT, Colorado State-Pueblo
Round 7, Pick 32 (238): Aaron Mellette, WR, Elon
Round 7, Pick 41 (247) (Compensatory Selection): Marc Anthony, CB, California
Some Expert Impressions:
Walter Football stated:
“238. Aaron Mellette, WR, Elon: A Grade
Ravens steal, yadda, yadda, yadda. I had Aaron Mellette in the fourth round, so this is tremendous value for him.
247. Marc Anthony, CB, California: A Grade
Ravens steal, yadda, yadda, yadda. Marc Anthony was a fourth- or a fifth-round projection, and Baltimore needed some cornerback depth.”
Mel Kiper Jr:
“The Ravens had another excellent draft because they needed starters at some key spots and pulled it off. That’s not easy to do when you’re slotted in at No. 32.”
Chris Burke, Si.com
“The Ravens used their first four picks on defense: “….S Matt Elam, LB Arthur Brown, DT Brandon Williams and DE John Simon. All could contribute, but the aggressive move for Brown was impressive. There’s value throughout here, too, with FB Kyle Juszczyk, DE Kapron Lewis-Moore and WR Aaron Mellette all intriguing picks. Grade: A-minus
May 15th, 2013 
Matt Loede 
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