Oakland Raiders: Early 3-round 2019 NFL mock draft brings needed help

With the San Francisco 49ers predictably taking Nick Bosa first overall given their own need for pass rushing help, the Raiders still get a pretty terrific “consolation prize” in Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell.

At 6-5, 260 pounds, Ferrell is long, rangy, and has tremendous speed. Though Bosa garners most of the hype, Ferrell may be every bit as good and could provide a very solid rush off the edge. Ferrell has speed, explosiveness, is strong against the run, good at using his hands to keep blockers off of him, and has tremendous athleticism that allows him to also drop into coverage.

Over his four seasons at Clemson – a span of 42 total games – Ferrell has recorded some more than respectable numbers. He’s recorded 158 total tackles (79 solo), forced four fumbles, has four passes defense, has scored a touchdown, has 26 sacks, and 48 tackles for a loss.

He was a key part of Clemson’s 2017 National Championship team, notching 9.5 sacks that season, and this year’s team that’s looking to repeat, adding in 10.5 sacks.

With the interior of Oakland’s defensive line featuring Maurice Hurst, P.J. Hall, Justin Ellis, and at some point you’d think, Eddie Vanderdoes, pairing Ferrell on one edge with Arden Key on the other could give the Raiders a very formidable defensive front.