Oakland Raiders superlatives for the 2019 NFL Draft class
By Justin Fried
Highest Floor: Clelin Ferrell, DE (Clemson)
Truth be told, we could’ve given Clelin Ferrell a number of these superlatives but felt it fitting to assign him the one that has been used to describe him as a prospect for months now.
In the months leading up to the draft, Ferrell has repeatedly been described as one of the safest prospects in this entire class. That label hasn’t changed now that he’s been drafted into the NFL — even if the Raiders took him a bit early inside the top five.
Ferrell is as well-rounded as they come as a prospect and a perfect fit as a 4-3 defensive end in Oakland’s defense. He is an excellent run defender and above-average pass rusher to boot. While he may not be the most explosive athlete, Ferrell more than makes up for it with his technical prowess.
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On top of that, Ferrell was highly-regarded as a leader during his time at Clemson and is well-known for his relentless motor. If you’re banking on one player in this entire draft class to have a long and successful career, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to place your money on Ferrell.
Although Ferrell may never develop into an annual 10+ sack type of player, he’s sure to be a very steady presence and three-down defensive end very early on in his career. Ferrell will likely step in Week 1 and be the Raiders best, pure all-around defensive lineman.
It’s hard to get any safer than the skill set that Ferrell brings to the table.