The Ravens used the first of three fourth-round picks on a potential replacement for Pernell McPhee.
With the 122nd overall pick, the Ravens selected Kentucky defensive end Za'Darius Smith, a developmental pass rusher who was the Most Valuable Player of the East-West Shrine game.
"I watched him a lot and I really think I can follow in his footsteps and become more like him," Smith said in a conference call with the local media. "I can tell you this, a lot of people are going to be hearing about Za'Darius Smith as a Baltimore Raven."
Smith, who played opposite first-round pick Bud Dupree at Kentucky, had 61 tackles, including 7 1/2 for losses, and 4 1/2 sacks as a senior at Kentucky. As a junior, the 6-foot-4, 274-pound player had six sacks and 59 tackles.
He's a former basketball player who didn't start playing football until 2010. He started his college career at East Mississippi Community College.
The Ravens are likely to use Smith as a reserve outside linebacker, and occasionally use him as as an interior rusher, similar to the way that the Ravens used McPhee, who signed a free agent deal with the Chicago Bears in March.
"Coming out of junior college, we ran a lot of 3-4, but being at Kentucky man, we ran a lot of 4-3," Smith said. "Just being in both defenses, I felt comfortable with this team drafting me because I can play multiple positions. I feel comfortable playing outside linebacker, standing up some, and also feel comfortable getting down there in that three technique on the pass rush on third down."
Smith is a Montgomery, Ala. native.