The Oakland Raiders had one of the most aggressive offseasons in the entire NFL. They acquired several highly-sought-after veterans, including Antonio Brown, Trent Brown, Tyrell Williams and Lamarcus Joyner.
But what move of the offseason was the riskiest for the Raiders? According to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, it was actually none of the above. Knox believes the most dangerous move for the Raiders this offseason was the selection of Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell with the No. 4 pick. Take a look at his thoughts on the pick below:
Oakland used the fourth overall pick on Clemson edge-rusher Clelin Ferrell. This was a surprising selection, as well as a risky one.
On one hand, the Raiders got the guy they wanted. On the other, they passed on elite prospects like Devin White, Ed Oliver and Josh Allen to do so. If Ferrell develops into an elite edge-rusher, great. If he doesn’t, and one of those other players becomes a perennial All-Pro, then the evaluation prowess of both head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock will be called into question.
Give Oakland credit for marching to its own beat, but recognize picking Ferrell at four was a gamble.
Ferrell might have been a “reach” at No. 4, but it’s hard to say that it was a risky pick. In fact, Ferrell might have been one of the safest picks in the entire draft given his production at Clemson. Look for him to become an instant starter for the Raiders and to produce right away.
