NFL Draft 2019: Raiders reach for Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell at No. 4
Jon Gruden and the Raiders shocked everyone by picking Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell No. 4 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. How does it grade?
The 2018 season was a forgettable one for Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders, earning the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, selecting Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell.
It was an interesting process leading up to the draft as Gruden sent his scouts home and the Raiders had everyone in the dark with their No. 4 pick. Would they trade down? Would they select best available? Would they draft a position of need?
No one knew until the clock struck 0:00 on their selection.
Gruden shocked everyone with the pick when many believed Ferrell would be a mid-to-late first-round pick.
Raiders fans had mixed reactions to the pick, but they could use some help on the defensive line and they’ve been trying to make up for the loss of Khalil Mack since they traded him to the Bears. The pass rush will get some help with this selection, but he may have a bit of a learning curve.
The Raiders are getting a strong 6-5, 260-pound end who has plenty of experience playing at a high level, recording 27 sacks over his Clemson career with arguably the best defensive line in college football. He also had 50.5 tackles for loss throughout his career and he’s going to be a nice contributor for the Raiders, but this was definitely a reach.
Oakland could have traded down and gotten another pick out of this, but decided to go with the guy they valued most, and you have to give Gruden some credit for the gutsy pick.
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Gruden wants to get this team back to contending for AFC titles and this may look like a good pick a few years down the line, but fans might be upset right away.
Grade: C+