Looking back at the Raiders 2019 NFL Draft class
The further we get from this draft, the worse this pick looks. After a stellar career at Clemson where he won a national championship in his final season, Ferrell was considered by nearly everyone to be a late-first or even second-round pick. Everyone but the Raiders that is as they delivered the shock of the draft when they called his name in the top five.
So far, Ferrell has been a colossal bust. With just eight sacks over his three-year career, Ferrell has seen his playing time decrease every year. Culminating in a 2021 season where he played in just 24% of the team snaps, he did not start in any games. After being replaced by Yannick Ngakuoe last season, the Raiders added Chandler Jones to play his position this off-season.
Selected three picks later, the Jaguars added Josh Allen to rush the passer. A Pro Bowler his rookie year, Allen has 20.5 sacks over his three seasons in the NFL. Later in the draft, fellow defensive lineman Brian Burns, Jefferey Simmons, and Montez Sweat were selected. All have had better careers than Ferrel thus far. In 2022, Ferrell faces an uphill battle to make the Las Vegas roster.
GRADE: F