Oakland Raiders: Instant grade and analysis of Clelin Ferrell

The Oakland Raiders selected Clemson edge rusher Clelin Ferrell with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Here are our initial grade and analysis of the pick.

The Oakland Raiders shocked the NFL world and destroyed every conceivable mock draft when they decided to take Clemson edge rusher Clelin Ferrell with the No. 4 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Ferrell was an accomplished, highly-productive three-year starter who was one of the key pieces of a daunting Clemson defense over the past few years. In three seasons with the Tigers, Ferrell totaled 27 sacks and 50.5 tackles for loss solidifying himself as one of the best defensive ends in the country.

However, to say that this move was a surprise would be an understatement.

Most mocks leading up to the draft had Ferrell in the range of around 15-25 with most analysts agreeing in terms of his true value. But evidently, Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock had other thoughts in mind.

It was a surprising move, yes. But was it a bad move? Let’s dive in and analyze.

National Reaction

The Verdict

At first glance, plenty of people are going to take issue with this pick. Given his expected draft range and anticipated talent, selecting him as high as No. 4 is sure to rile up the masses of Raider Nation.

With top defensive talents such as Josh Allen and Ed Oliver still very much available, it definitely seems odd to “reach” for a player like Ferrell. But if we know anything about Gruden it’s that he isn’t one to sit around and wait for a player he likes, even if consensus says he should.

Gruden isn’t a “consensus” type of guy. And for the record, neither is Mayock.

So let’s take a step back and look at this pick from an analytical standpoint.

Ferrell is a good prospect, I don’t think anyone is denying that. He’s an ideal 4-3 defensive end who offers a high-floor with his already proficient run defense and solid pass rush abilities. The 2018 All-American plays with power and is technically refined in seemingly all aspects of the game.

By all standards, he should be a very solid pro player. However, it is fair to question where the Raiders took him.

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While he possesses one of the highest floors out of prospects in this draft class, he lacks the athletic traits to be an elite pass rusher at the next level and will likely never develop into an annual 10+ sack guy. And with the No. 4 overall selection, you’re typically looking for players who have the traits and potential to be perennial All-Pro talents, not safe, high-floor players.

At the same time, it’s hard to question the logic behind the pick. Gruden and Mayock saw the obvious need for the Raiders to take a pass rusher and they did just that. Is it fair to question Ferrell’s future potential? Yes, absolutely. But it’s also fair to question the value of other players they could have taken.

The aforementioned Josh Allen would have been an appealing pick, but many analysts don’t see his projection to the pros as a true every-down pass rusher. If Oakland was looking for a legitimate every-down edge, Ferrell was one of the best options available.

And as for Ed Oliver, Oakland evidently saw more value in drafting edge talent, especially with last year’s fifth-round pick Maurice Hurst showing plenty of promise.

At the end of the day, Ferrell projects as a very reliable, productive starter at the NFL level for a number of years. But his limited ceiling does ultimately hurt his potential for substantial impact and, as a result, drops this grade a bit.

But still, it isn’t hard to see why this pick was made, even if it seems a bit out of left field.

Final Grade: B-