The keyword for the Raiders 2019 draft class was leadership. Mike Mayock said this to every draft pick on the phone and reached on a couple of draft picks who fit that mold.
One of those players was Clelin Ferrell, who was the controversial No. 4 pick. Ferrell was drafted earlier than expected, and the main reason was his intangibles. He was a leader for a Clemson defense for the last two seasons, and ACC defensive player of the year.
Early on in OTAs, his leadership abilities have been noticed by the veterans. Vonteze Burfict discussed this during his most recent press conference:
These words from Burfict highlight why the Raiders decided to take Ferrell high in the 2019 NFL draft. Ferrell already understanding gap assignments and audibles can be huge for his prospects to contribute early.
It is essential that Ferrell help a pass rush that ended last in league with 13 sacks. It looks like he is headed in the right direction.
