Heading into the 2019 NFL draft, the Oakland Raiders knew what their biggest weakness was heading into the season; a lack of a pass-rush. That is why they spent the No. 4 pick on one of the most consistent edge players in all of the country in Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell.
If Oakland wants to have success next season, they are going to need some of their young players, including Ferrell, to be able to get to the quarterback. But what is a realistic expectation for Ferrell in his rookie season for the Raiders?
According to BetOnline.ag, Ferrell’s projected sack total sits at 5.5. To compare that number to some of his other draft colleagues, Josh Allen’s is set at 7, while No.2 overall pick Nick Bosa is at 9.
Ferrell is known more for his all-around game, rather than just creating sacks off the edge. However, he can certainly do that as well. According to Pro Football Focus, Ferrell had a pass-rush win rate of 22.6%, the seventh-highest in the 2019 draft class.
While a line of 5.5 sacks may seem low for Ferrell (especially in comparison to others in the class), it looks about right. Ferrell is likely to be more of a help in the run game than Bosa or Allen as he proved to be an elite run-stopper at Clemson.
Look for Ferrell to be in the backfield a ton in 2019, but for his sack total to only hover around six or so.
