The Oakland Raiders have officially signed first-round draft pick Clelin Ferrell, with the Raiders announcing that the Clemson defensive lineman signed his four-year rookie deal, per Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk.
In desperate need of a pass rusher, Oakland went with Ferrell with the fourth overall pick, a decision that surprised some people that expected Ferrell to fall a bit further.
However, there is no denying Ferrell's collegiate production, particularly during his junior year when he racked up 55 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown.
Ferrell arrived at Clemson in in 2015 but redshirted after appearing in just one contest. He then began earning significant playing time the following year, totaling 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks.
Then, during his sophomore season, Ferrell registered 66 stops, 18 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and a couple of forced fumbles.
The Raiders posted just 13 sacks this past year, ranking last in the NFL. For comparison's sake, the New England Patriots and New York Giants were tied for second-to-last in the league with 30 sacks.
Oakland ended winning just four games, marking the fourth time that it has finished with four wins or less since 2012.
The Raiders have made just one playoff appearance since last making the Super Bowl during the 2002-03 campaign, with their 12-win season in 2016 representing their only winning season during that span.
However, thanks to a busy offseason in which Oakland landed players like Antonio Brown, Trent Brown and Lamarcus Joyner, things seem to be looking up for the Raiders.
Follow Us
Subscribe