Aug 10, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell (96) stretches before the start of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
A pick so uninspiring it spawned a meme. We’ve all seen it. The GIF of the Raiders fan at the draft who was so thoroughly disgusted, he just put his hood up and walked away.
He was right too. Ferrell was the second edge rusher chosen in the first round of that draft behind Nick Bosa. And he has been far and away the worst edge rusher chosen in that first round. He had a whopping ten sacks in his four seasons with the Raiders and has a career total of 13.5 sacks. Even the defensive tackles have had better careers. Check out the list of edge rushers and defensive linemen taken after him in the first round:
Pick 7, Josh Allen, 45 sacks
Pick 9, Ed Oliver, 24 sacks
Pick 12, Rashan Gary, 31.5 sacks
Pick 13, Christian Wilkins, 20.5 sacks
Pick 16, Brian Burns, 46 sacks
Pick 17, Dexter Lawrence, 21 sacks
Pick 19, Jefferey Simmons, 26.5 sacks
Pick 26, Montez Sweat, 41.5 sacks
The thing is, Ferrell was labeled at best a mid-to-late first round talent leading up to the draft. Mike Mayock knew it too. He admitted the Raiders tried to trade down, but said they didn’t get a deal they liked. So, instead of taking the best player on the board, they just went with the guy they had targeted all along. Seemingly because he fit Paul Guenther’s ideal for a defensive end. Which should never be enough.
Ferrell is still an active NFL player. After four years with the Raiders, he joined the 49ers and actually started every game last season, breaking out for 3.5 sacks.
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