Clelin

Ferrell

This is the first of three first-round picks for the Raiders on Thursday. Ferrell (6’4/264) turned pro as a redshirt junior after registering 50 career TFLs with 27 sacks and five forced fumbles across 44 starts, earning 2018’s ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top defensive end. Ferrell’s pre-draft workouts were limited by a nagging turf toe injury, but his tape reveals a complete defensive end who stuffs the run and disrupts the pass with a quick get-off step, active hands, violent bull rush, and plus length (34 1/8" arms).

“He’s one of my favorite players,” said the scout. “His production is unbelievable. He knows how to play. He’s not an elite athlete but he maximizes everything he has.” Ferrell has seen his stock drop as of late, but because of his production, he’s very likely going on Thursday. McGinn compares Ferrell to Terrell Suggs; a player that also saw his stock slide, only for him to become one of the EDGE players of all time. If a team gets a semblance of that production, they’re obviously going to be very pleased.

“A lot of people are starting to wonder about Ferrell. I don’t know why he wouldn’t run,” said one scout. Not competing is a quick way to be on the naughty list, and Ferrell may have rubbed some, not all, the wrong way. There’s no way it can be that big of a deal, but it’s something to remember if Ferrell slides out of the top-25 picks on Thursday. It would be a minor surprise if Ferrell slipped that far, however, with more than a handful of teams in the 13-24 range needing edge rushers.

Since they only have four picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Seahawks may be more active flipping veterans for draft capital, but a player of Frank Clark’s status puts a big wrinkle on projecting the first round. While there’s a lot of edge talent in the draft, there is a drop off between the top-6 edge rushers and the rest of the group, so an edge-needy team picking in the second half of Round 1 or in Round 2 should find Clark appealing. If the Seahawks aren’t able to trade Clark for draft capital, they are expected to try to move down from their 21st overall pick to gain more mid-round picks.

“Clelin Ferrell is one of the more NFL-ready pass-rushers in this class, but he also has less potential athletically than the players ranked ahead of him,” Miller wrote. “Ferrell could be a day one starter at defensive end in a 4-3 scheme, but his lack of elite athletic traits could limit his upside.” Ferrell (6'4/264) may not have received the level of praise that some of his Clemson teammates did given how stacked the Tigers’ defensive line was, but he’s viewed by many as a player who will have a solid NFL career.

Most mocks have the Ravens taking wideouts with that first-round selection, but rushers off the edge are also a need, and it’d be tough for Baltimore to pass on a player this talented. McShay gives the Ravens Texas A&M RB Trayveon Williams with their first of two third-round selection -- Baltimore doesn’t have a second-round choice -- and New Mexico State LB Terrill Hanks with the other. On paper, it certainly makes sense.

“If I could move back a few spots, add a great player and a pick, that’d be great,” the general manager continued. “People out there listening, I’m open for business.” The Lions are a potential trading partner for quarterback-needy teams (Bengals, Dolphins, Redskins) looking to jump the Denver Broncos who own the 10th overall pick. The Lions have been mocked edge rushers, tight ends, and offensive lineman, but they’d still be able to get one of the top prospects if they slid down a half dozen picks. This strategy makes a lot of sense on paper.

Ferrell’s (6'4/264) is a “highly productive 4-3 defensive end with prototypical size, length, and strength,” according to Zierlein. His draft stock is tough to gauge at the moment with so many strong defensive linemen in this draft class and quarterbacks making their yearly leap up draft boards. Zierlein is confident a team can “turn him into a star” because he’s a “complete defender.” We expect Ferrell to be selected anywhere from picks No. 5 to 20.

Jeremiah says Ferrell (6'4/264) “has excellent size, length and power” and loves his hand usage and technique. However, Jeremiah is a few spots lower than consensus on Ferrell, who is considered a fringe top-10 prospect by most analysts. Jeremiah knocks him down because “he lacks an elite get-off.” As long as last week’s toe injury isn’t serious, Ferrell is expected to be taken anywhere between picks No. 5 and 20.

The severity of the injury is unknown, but Ferrell (6'4/264) opted to sit out at Clemson’s Pro Day, so it’s certainly a situation to monitor. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Ferrell tested above average in the agility drills, but NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah said Ferrell has high-end technique and wasn’t concerned if Ferrell doesn’t test like an elite athlete. After totaling 20 tackles for loss in 2018, Ferrell is expected to come off the board within the first 15 selections, assuming his toe injury isn’t serious.