2019 NFL Mock Draft: Projected first round after Week 12
By Dana Becker
Clemson. Clelin Ferrell. 2. player. 28. . DE
The 2019 NFL Draft is going to be a make-or-break time for the Oakland Raiders and head coach Jon Gruden. With three first round picks at the moment, the Raiders can either stock up on talent or try to secure a higher spot in the order.
If they are No. 2 with the first of those three selections, Oakland will be in a perfect situation to work on rebuilding the defense. Remember, when Gruden and the Raiders made their Super Bowl run all those years ago, they had a very solid defense. And if we’ve learned anything about the NFL, getting just one more stop than the opposition can turn you from a pretender to a contender in a hurry.
Up first should be Clelin Ferrell, the standout defensive end from Clemson. Ferrell has been an absolute monster over his three-year career as a starter for the Tigers, using his 6-foot-5, 260-pound frame to torment opposing offenses.
Oakland’s defensive ends are Frostee Rucker and Arden Key at the moment, with not much behind those guys. Supplying a disruptive force like Ferrell into the heart of the defense immediately makes up for other issues on the back-end, which we’ll address later in this mock draft.