Ranking the Las Vegas Raiders first round picks since 2010

Ranking the Las Vegas Raiders first-round picks since 2010

6. Clelin Ferrell: 2019 – 3rd overall, Clemson

Clelin Ferrell has been a solid performer for the Raiders since being drafted 3rd overall in 2019 but he has not quite lived up to that lofty selection. After struggling with a mystery illness his rookie season, Ferrell was bouncing back in 2020 until a bout with COVID and other injuries forced him to miss 5 games.

Many fans are quick to label him a bust for his low sack totals, just 6.5 in 26 games, but Ferrell has made his impact on the field felt in other ways. He has been a plus run defender for the Raiders on a team that has struggled to defend the run and was given a 76.1 PFF grade in 2020, a big improvement from the 62.3 of his rookie season.

We know that sack totals are not the end all be all of defensive end statistics but we do need to see more production from Ferrell for him to be worthy of that third overall selection. He may get shifted inside more often with the arrival of Yannick Ngakoue but this should be a rising tide lifts all boats scenario with him drawing more attention from offenses.

Ferrell has also suffered from being compared to Josh Allen of the Jaguars who already has 13 sacks and linebacker Devin White who has the makings of a future All-Pro, both of whom were selected just after Ferrell. He is by no means a bust but the Raiders will be hoping for more production from the former Clemson Tiger.