By all accounts, No. 4 pick Clelin Ferrell has been as good as advertised during training camp for the Raiders. He was instantly inserted into the starting lineup and has consistently brought pressure from the edge. However, he’s not the only rookie defensive end making noise in Napa.
Fourth-round pick Maxx Crosby is already catching the eye of his head coach. At his Tuesday press conference, Jon Gruden talked about Crosby and his relentless motor:
On top of always playing at maximum effort, Crosby is incredibly athletic. He tested in the 88th percentile for all edge rushers entering the NFL, according to 3sigmaathlete.com. At 6-foot-5, 266 pounds, Crosby ran a 4.66 40-yard dash and posted an incredible 6.89 3-cone time at the NFL combine.
As Gruden mentioned, he still needs to improve as a pass-rusher, specifically with his technique. But the tools and motor are there for him to become a star in the NFL. Look for Crosby to find his way into the rotation in 2019 and possibly fight for a starting job.
