Players taken at No. 4 in the draft are expected to be impact players right away, unless they are quarterbacks drafted by teams with a better option in place. Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell apparently needed a full season to get squared away before taking flight. On Thursday, Ferrell told reporters at the team’s training
Clelin Ferrell ready to validate Raiders drafting him at No. 4 after disappointing rookie season
Ferrell has the intangibles (he’s accountable, he works hard, etc). Ferrell just lacked the burst and athleticism needed off the edge. One could see that when he was at Clemson. That’s why him being taken at #4 was such a head scratcher.
He’s gained some good weight. They will rotate him around. Just hope he can get to the QB. You don’t draft a player #4 overall just for “leadership,” “bat down balls” or “set the edge.” You can find guys like that elsewhere. He has to pressure the QB. We’ll see.
Another guy who talks the talk, but needs to walk the walk. As pointed out, others taken around the same time as Ferrell have already produced at this level.