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If there was any doubt about the Jon Gruden/Mike Mayock era being an all-around disappointment for Las Vegas, new Raiders GM Dave Ziegler made a surprising announcement.
The Raiders will not be extending fifth-year rookie options to any of their 2019 first-round draft picks, which consist of running back Josh Jacobs, defensive end Clelin Ferrell, and defensive back Johnathan Abram, the team announced on Friday morning.
Raiders declined the fifth-year contract options on all three former 2019 first-round draft picks, DE Clelin Ferrell, RB Josh Jacobs and S Johnathan Abram.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2022
In four seasons under Gruden, the Raiders compiled an overall record of 22-31 and failed to make the playoffs during the three full seasons in which Gruden coached the team. The Raiders did make the playoffs this past season, but Gruden resigned just five games into the season following the leak of an email thread between Gruden, former Washington Football Team coach Jay Gruden, WFT owner Dan Snyder, and other executives around the NFL.
The decision to not exercise the fifth-year options on Abram, Jacobs, or Ferrell does not come as too much of a surprise, especially with Ferrell and Abram in particular struggling.
Ferrell, the fourth overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Raiders, found himself as a rotational piece rather than a starter during the 2021 season, and overall through 42 career games managed to record just eight career sacks and just two forced fumbles.
Abram, the 27th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, is coming off his best season from a statistical standpoint in 2021 but recorded just a 56.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus following back-to-back seasons being graded in the 30s by PFF.
Jacobs is the most successful of the trio, earning a Pro Bowl appearance during the 2020 NFL season. However, Jacobs is often hurt, forcing the former Crimson Tide star to miss eight games so far through his first three seasons.
