OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens concluded their 2013 draft by selecting California cornerback Marc Anthony in the seventh round with the 247th overall pick.

Anthony was a three-year starter for the Bears and posted 138 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, 21 pass breakups, and five interceptions. At 5-foot-11 and 196 pounds, the 23-year-old projects to compete for a roster spot via special teams and depth in the secondary.

General manager Ozzie Newsome said prior to the draft that you can never have too many cornerbacks, so the Ravens’ decision to take one with their final pick is hardly surprising.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens waited until the seventh round to address the wide receiver position by drafting Elon’s Aaron Mellette with the 238th overall selection on Saturday.

At 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds, the FCS product has excellent size and good straight-line speed by running a 4.54-second 40-yard dash. Last season, Mellette started all 11 games and caught 97 passes for 1,398 yards and 18 touchdowns.

His 2011 season was even better as he caught 113 passes and averaged 14.5 yards per catch while catching 12 touchdowns. That production earned him first-team All-America honors as he led the FCS in both receptions per game (10.27) and receiving yards per game (149.0).

Mellette is an intriguing prospect that many thought would go in the middle part of the draft, making his selection great value in the final round. The Ravens hadn’t added a wide receiver since trading Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round pick on the eve of free agency in March.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens went the small-school route again in selecting offensive lineman Ryan Jensen from Colorado State-Pueblo with their second sixth-round pick.

Jensen was the 203rd overall selection after playing Division II football and will be expected to compete for a roster spot along the Ravens’ interior offensive line. He was listed as a center when the Ravens announced the pick, but Jensen wasn’t a household name on most draft experts’ radars.

General manager Ozzie Newsome said earlier this offseason that the Ravens would like to bring in another center to compete with 2012 fourth-round pick Gino Gradkowski.

Jensen is 6-foot-3 and 317 pounds.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens continued adding to their front seven with the selection of a second defensive end in Notre Dame’s Kapron Lewis-Moore in the sixth round on Saturday.

Lewis-Moore tore his ACL in the BCS national championship game against Alabama, which could equate this to the Ravens taking a long-term chance on the hefty defensive lineman. At 6-foot-4 and 298 pounds, the Fighting Irish co-captain has the prototypical size for a defensive end in a 3-4 system.

Only speaking to the Ravens briefly at the scouting combine in February, Lewis-Moore admitted surprise when he received the call from general manager Ozzie Newsome while he was out buying a sandwich.

“Me and my agent — we were still pretty hopeful late round, but in the middle of the sixth, I was kind of losing a little hope,” Lewis-Moore in a conference call. “I was just like, ‘Hey, let me just go get a sandwich. Whatever happens, happens.’ Obviously, the phone started going off. I saw the Baltimore area code, and I was like, ‘Whoa!’”

He was a four-year starter at Notre Dame and finished his career with 180 tackles, 12 sacks, and 22 tackles for a loss.

Considering his status remains in doubt for the 2013 season, Lewis-Moore is in a good spot with the opportunity to learn from veteran mentors on the defensive line such as Haloti Ngata, Chris Canty, and Marcus Spears. His body of work at Notre Dame suggests he could be a factor in the future, but it’s difficult to overlook the fact that he’s sustained knee injuries in each of his last two seasons at Notre Dame.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens added depth to their offensive line in the fifth-round with the selection of Wisconsin guard Ricky Wagner.

Taking with the 168th overall pick, Wagner played left tackle with the Badgers last season but is expected to work as an interior lineman at the next level. The 6-foot-6, 308-pound lineman was a first-team all-Big Ten selection last season.

“I waited a little longer than I thought [to be picked], but good things come when you wait,” Wagner said in a conference call. “I can’t think of a better organization than the Ravens.”

Wagner is considered a stronger run blocker than pass protector, which explains why he projects to be more of an inside player at the next level. Some teams viewed Wagner as a candidate to play right tackle, but the Ravens specified him as a guard when he was selected with their fifth-round compensatory pick.

After earning Division I scholarship offers for basketball, Wagner elected to walk on for the Badgers and became a three-year starter at a program known for producing NFL offensive linemen. He played his final two years at left tackle after starting at right tackle

He became the second consecutive offensive player selected by the Ravens after they drafted fullback Kyle Juszczyk with the second fourth-round pick

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After using their first four selections on defensive players, the Ravens finally addressed their offense with the selection of Harvard fullback Kyle Juszczyk with the 130th overall pick of the draft.

A two-time All-American and three-time all-Ivy League selection, Juszczyk carried the ball only three times in his collegiate career but caught 125 passes for 1,576 yards and 22 touchdowns over his four years with Harvard. He is expected to serve in more of an H-back capacity while lining up as a fullback and tight end.

“I don’t think I’m that traditional old-school fullback that’s going to run ‘isos’ all day,” Juszczyk said in a conference call. “I feel that is something that I can be effective at, but I think there are other ways I can be used.”

Juszczyk visited with the Ravens and told reporters he had a strong feeling that he’d wind up in Baltimore.

His addition will create more speculation that Pro Bowl fullback Vonta Leach is on his way out of Baltimore despite having one year remaining on his contract. The 31-year-old Leach carries a $4.33 million cap number in 2013 and his release would save $3 million in space, but the Ravens had just under $4 million in cap space entering the draft, meaning they have no need to release Leach unless another opportunity to acquire a veteran wide receiver or offensive tackle would arise.

For now, Juszczyk is looking forward to learning from the fullback many regard as the NFL’s best.

“I couldn’t ask for a better mentor,” he said. “I feel like he’s been the best fullback in the league for a while now. I’m really looking forward to learning from him and getting to work with him.”

According to the Ravens, Juszczyk’s last name is pronounced “yooz-check,” but you can expect that one to be butchered for years to come.

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.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — In an attempt to beef up their interior defensive line, the Ravens used their third-round pick to select nose tackle Brandon Williams of Missouri Southern State.

Playing at a Division II school, Williams was a three-time All-American and has a combination of strength and agility not typically seen at his position. At 6-foot-1 and 335 pounds, he will likely compete with Terrence Cody at nose tackle when Haloti Ngata doesn’t slide to the inside on Baltimore’s revamped defensive line.

He ran a 5.37-second 40-yard dash and possesses the low center of gravity ideal for interior linemen in a 3-4 defensive scheme. His performance at the Senior Bowl put him on the map as a legitimate mid-round draft prospect despite coming from a small school.

“I always knew I could play at that talent and level,” Williams said in a conference call. “I just had to prove to the NFL that I could do it. I always believe in myself every step of the way. It just gave me the opportunity to just show my talent and show that I belong in the NFL.”

Williams thought there was a good chance that the Ravens would draft him and said he met with the team informally at the scouting combine. However, he did not have a private workout or visit with the Ravens.

According to general manager Ozzie Newsome, Williams was identified early in the third round as the player the Ravens wanted to select at the end of Day 2. In addition to free agents Chris Canty and Marcus Spears, the selection of Williams continued to address the defensive line, which was a clear deficiency of Dean Pees’ unit last season.

“We have really bolstered our front seven big time,” coach John Harbaugh said at the conclusion of the third round. “I just think we are going to be deep. We are going to have a nice rotation up front. It’s going to be a very formidable group.”

Williams was tabbed with the 94th overall pick on Friday night.

The Ravens will resume picking on Saturday, with their first selection set for the 129th overall selection near the end of the fourth round. Baltimore has yet to draft an offensive player after selecting safety Matt Elam, inside linebacker Arthur Brown, and Williams to reload a defense that lost six key players this offseason.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Making their first selection on the second day of the NFL Draft, the Ravens addressed another need by trading up to the 56th pick of the second round to select Kansas State inside linebacker Arthur Brown.

Baltimore swapped its original second-round pick (62nd overall) with the Seattle Seahawaks to move up six slots in order to take the coveted linebacker. General manager Ozzie Newsome also gave up fifth-round (165th) and sixth-round (199th) picks to complete the trade.

The 6-foot-1, 231-pound linebacker has excellent range and athleticism and will be expected to compete for a starting job at inside linebacker. The Ravens like his ability to drop into pass coverage, which was a deficiency of their linebackers over the last couple years. His 4.58-second 40-yard dash time shows the potential for Brown to hang with speedier tight ends and running backs in coverage at the next level.

“We think he’s a four-down linebacker who can play in passing situations, play the run, and also play special teams,” said assistant general manager Eric DeCosta, who was concerned he would come off the board before their original second-round pick. “We are very excited.”

In two seasons as a starter for the Wildcats, Brown finished with 201 tackles, three sacks, and five interceptions. He was one of the Ravens’ famed “red-star” players during the scouting process and a two-time captain.

Brown began his career at the University of Miami but transferred to Kansas State after little playing time in two seasons. He received first-team All-American (The NFL Draft Report and the Football Writers Association of America) and first-team all-conference honors last season and coaches of the Big 12 named him as the conference’s Defensive Player of the year.

“To walk into a school and be a fresh face and get that honor — that’s hard to do,” said director of college scouting Joe Hortiz about Brown being named a captain at Kansas State. “You have a lot of guys that are established there, and his teammates recognized that. He’s a great kid. He’s a great leader. He passes all the intangibles.”

The 22-year-old didn’t visit the Ravens but completed a private workout for the organization the weeks leading up to the draft.

Inside linebacker was one of the team’s pressing needs following the retirement of Ray Lewis and the free-agent departure of Dannell Ellerbe. The Ravens appeared to address the position with the signing of 2010 first-round pick and former Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain, but the 23-year-old was arrested last weekend in his hometown of Decature, Ala., leaving his future with the organization in doubt.

Based on his underwhelming size for the inside linebacker position, Brown takes the comparisons to Lewis in stride and is eager to compete to become part of the Baltimore tradition of defense.

“I can improve in really every area,” Brown said, “and it’s just a matter of time, just a matter of commitment and a matter of dedication and just the willingness to invest time and develop my weaknesses. Just to go out there and learn the scheme and being able to adjust to the concept.”

Coincidentally, the 199th pick surrendered as part of the package to move up in the second round was acquired from San Francisco when the Ravens traded wide receiver Anquan Boldin in mid-March.

Brown’s younger brother, Bryce, currently plays for the Philadelphia Eagles and was a seventh-round pick in the 2012 draft. The linebacker was forced to sit out the 2010 season after transferring to Kansas State, explaining how Bryce beat him to the NFL.

If you missed new Ravens linebacker Arthur Brown’s conversation with WNST.net’s Glenn Clark earlier this month, listen HERE.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens appear absolutely thrilled with their first-round selection Matt Elam of Florida.

The 21-year-old safety was a player the Ravens had been targeting all along to add to their defense, but Elam’s addition doesn’t come without questions. His 5-foot-10 height isn’t ideal for matching up with the monstrous tight ends taking over the NFL and his brutally-physical style of play will make some wonder if he’s a young version of Bernard Pollard — complete with the propensity for drawing flags — but a deeper look into his history and motivation for landing where he is today makes him easy to root for.

Dealing with the murder of his 12-year-old sister when he was 8 and then coping with an older brother facing the same fate less than a decade later would have been enough to send just about anyone down the wrong path. Instead, Elam channeled that emotion to work even harder to realize his dream of playing in the NFL.

“It was just me understanding that I’m tired of the frowns and the tears and the funerals and things like that,” said Elam, who grew up in a rough neighborhood in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.. “I was like, ‘I’m going to turn this around. I’m going to do this the right way. I’m going to turn the frowns into smiles. I’m going to make sure my family is happy. I’m going to make sure the happiness overcomes all the tragedy and adversity.”

A decision by his mother to send Elam to another school — he attended William T. Dwyer High in West Palm Beach — to avoid getting in trouble also aided as he eventually enjoyed a standout career with the Gators and was selected with the 32nd overall pick of the NFL Draft on Thursday night. The positive influence of his older brother and current NFL player Abe also kept Elam focused on improving his life and bringing that joy to his family.

It makes his slight stature and questions about his pass coverage seem a little less important as no one really knows how Elam’s skill set in the SEC will translate to Sundays in the NFL. The Ravens seem convinced that it will.

Elam seems to hope you’ll doubt him after he admits having a chip on his shoulder after two safeties — Kenny Vaccaro of Texas and Eric Reid of LSU — were taken before him in the first round. His background makes it easy to see how he might use such perceived slights as motivation.

“A lot of kids my age that have been through the same thing lost siblings and took it negatively and didn’t use it as motivation [or] make it positive,” Elam said. “I used it as positive energy and things like that. I feel like it helped me, growing through that thing helped me.”

His heartfelt story aside, it’s fair to ask questions about Elam’s height as he’ll occasionally be matched up with receivers or tight ends more than a half-foot taller than him. Elam displayed good ball skills in college and appeared competent in coverage when he wasn’t playing in the box to stop the run.

It remains to be seen how the Ravens will use him as defensive coordinator Dean Pees said Elam will be asked to learn both safety positions as well as the nickel spot for certain packages. He could emerge as a Swiss army knife that the Ravens can use all over the field, but it’s clear his physicality stands out, evident by the highlight-reel hits he turned in on a weekly basis in Gainesville.

“The guy can run, the guy can cover, and — most of all — he can hit,” Pees said. “What I like most about him watching him on film is there is a dying art in college football in the secondary, and it’s called tackling. This guy has that heart.”

That description will immediately make Ravens fans think of Pollard, who was popular for his violent collisions but also guilty of infractions with the NFL’s commitment to cracking down on blows to the head of defenseless receivers. Pro football is a changing game and there is at least some question whether Elam’s wild-man approach will sit well with officials and commissioner Roger Goodell.

However, the Ravens don’t seem too concerned and Elam believes he is fundamentally sound with his approach to attacking would-be receivers and ball carriers.

“I feel like I won’t let up a bit. I’ll just rely on my technique,” Elam said. “Like I said, I’ll improve every day in practice, and I feel like it won’t be a problem. I’ll rely on my technique. It won’t slow me down a bit.”

The truth is no one really knows whether Elam will emerge as the next great safety in the Baltimore secondary or simply become a solid defensive back with limitations due to height and a reputation for going overboard in the same way Pollard did. His cover skills looked strong enough in small doses at Florida, but will he be able to hang with tight ends and wide receivers that look like power forwards at the next level?

That remains to be seen, but the simple fact that Elam sat in front of media and answered questions about his NFL career was a victory in and of itself after everything he’s been through.

It would have been easy to take his life in a darker direction, but Elam elected to push past tragedy and attack his goals in the same way he does the opposition. With that in mind, the questions he faces seem quite trivial.

But Elam is taking nothing for granted with his opportunity to join the defending Super Bowl champions.

“Growing up, I had to work through things,” Elam said. “My parents and my brother always made me work at it – made me earn things. Like I said, I don’t want anything given, because if it’s given, it’s not earned.”