Raiders DE Clelin Ferrell named top-32 EDGE defender in the NFL
Despite being the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NFL draft, Clelin Ferrell has somehow become underrated. While his sack totals aren’t anything to brag about, he is just a solid player who has gotten better against the run in each of the last two seasons.
Entering Year 3, the Raiders are hoping that Ferrell will make a leap as a pass rusher. The addition of Yannick Ngakoue should help Ferrell (and Maxx Crosby) as they are now three-deep at the position.
In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, they ranked the top-32 edge defenders in the NFL heading into the 2021 season. Ferrell did appear at the list at No. 32, ahead of Maxx Crosby. Here is what the site had to say about the former Clemson defensive end:
“Ferrell hasn’t lived up to the expectations that come with being a top-five pick in the NFL draft, but he was much improved in his second season out of Clemson in 2020. Ferrell improved his overall grade from 62.3 to 76.1 to go along with a 3.5 percentage point jump to his pressure rate in the 11 games he appeared in. He is trending in the opposite direction of fellow 2019 draftee Maxx Crosby, whose overall grade fell nearly eight points from his first to second season last year.”
Ngakoue also appeared on the list, coming in at No. 24. The Raiders were one of the few teams to have multiple defensive ends on the list. If Crosby can become a more consistent player, specifically against the run, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Raiders had all three of their EDGE rushers on this list at this time next year.
With Ferrell’s ability to play defensive end and defensive tackle, look for him to move all across the defensive line in 2021 as the team’s Swiss Army Knife. Look for Ferrell to have the best season of his career under new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.
