2019 NFL Draft: Grading every first-round pick after rookie year

4. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Oakland Raiders

2019 Stats: 38 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 5 passes defended, 1 fumble recovered

The Oakland Raiders took a lot of flak when they opted to pick Clelin Ferrell with the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. There were plenty of tantalizing pass rushers on the board, and Jon Gruden decided that the Clemson defensive end was the one for him.

However, many folks had Ferrell much further down their draft boards. That led to the pick immediately being labeled a reach, with Gruden and Mike Mayock both falling under fire for the decision. Still, the hope was that he’d prove doubters wrong during the season and make his new head coach and GM look like geniuses.

Well that didn’t happen. Instead, Ferrell struggled to make his presence felt throughout the 2019 campaign. Sure, he had 4.5 sacks, but it felt like a good bit of them were more a result of luck than Ferrell’s performance. He was ineffective as a run defender, inconsistent at getting after the quarterback, and wasn’t a key factor in Oakland’s pass-rushing improvement.

It also doesn’t help Ferrell’s case that he was thoroughly outplayed by fellow rookie Maxx Crosby. The Raiders’ fourth-round pick was a menace in the pass-rushing department, racking up 10 sacks on the season and looking like a far more developed talent. If Crosby continues to outshine Ferrell in 2020, he could earn that bust label sooner rather than later.

Grade: C-