Las Vegas Raiders: Player with most to prove at each defensive position in 2021

Las Vegas Raiders: Player with most to prove at each defensive position in 2021

Defensive line: Clelin Ferrell

When Clelin Ferrell was drafted as the fourth overall pick by the Raiders, just about everyone in the country was shocked. Ferrell was not projected to go anywhere near fourth overall, but the Raiders wanted to make sure they got him, and they did.

Since then, Ferrell has been a solid player but has not lived up to his draft position whatsoever. The Raiders defense is clearly better when Ferrell is on the field, and he does do a lot that does not show up on the stat sheet, but we can only hear that for so long until we declare Ferrell a bust.

Ferrell only has 6.5 sacks in his two years with the Raiders and was originally drafted as an edge rusher, but not rotates both to the inside and outside. The decision to extend Ferrell and look at what kind of a contract he will be offered will be here before we know it, and as of now, we will likely either overpay Ferrell based on his performance, or we may have to move on.

As of now, Ferrell has been running with the second team at training camp, even though he will clearly get a ton of playing time. Ferrell needs to figure out what type of player he is, what he wants his playing weight to be, and really needs to step up his game.