Oakland Raiders fans freak out over shock first pick in NFL Draft
The Oakland Raiders have left fans shocked and concerned after taking Clelin Ferrell with the No.4 pick in the NFL Draft.
The unpredictable Raiders made the first surprising pick of the draft, with everyone seeming to believe they would take Kentucky pass rusher Josh Allen.
FULL ANALYSIS: Every first round pick as they happen
But the Raiders weren’t going to do the obvious thing.
They took Clemson defensive end Ferrell instead, which nobody seemed to expect with the fourth pick.
The reaction from fans and experts was pretty savage, with those two gentleman immediately going viral:
Clelin Ferrell to the Raiders and fans are confused 🤨 pic.twitter.com/W6c8T2QWhu
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 26, 2019
#Raiders taking #Clemson DE Clelin Ferrell.
This Raider fan was SICK! #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/6zwAXHawYn
— Looselines (@LooselinesRJ) April 26, 2019
Raiders select Clelin Ferrell with the fourth overall pick pic.twitter.com/B4JlaMn0y4
— SI Extra Mustard (@SI_ExtraMustard) April 26, 2019
The #Raiders select Clelin Ferrell.
Raiders fans: pic.twitter.com/YulSEXDiIW
— Ryan Talbot (@RyanTalbotBills) April 26, 2019
I had Clelin Ferrell going top 5
-No one
— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) April 26, 2019
I'm a Clelin Ferrell fan. But did he flourish because Clemson's line was so loaded with NFL talent? I saw several mocks that had him going at the bottom of the first round. Gruden just took him 4th. Must've thought he'd go much higher than projected. He better be real good.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 26, 2019
Jon Gruden after drafting Clelin Ferrell #4 overall in the #NFLDraft. 😂 #NFL #ClelinFerrell #Raiders pic.twitter.com/c5Zwof3bEc
— Now or Never ESPN (@noworneverespn) April 26, 2019
Clelin Ferrell? I would have preferred the #Raiders had taken Will Ferrell. pic.twitter.com/Lr7ZypncX2
— Darrell Bird (@DarrellBird) April 26, 2019
Say this about Jon Gruden and the Raiders: They’re going to do things their way.
At least Ferrell can help fill the Raiders’ biggest need, which is pass rusher.
That became a big issue after the team traded Khalil Mack, of course.
Was Clelin Ferrell a reach?
Ferrell is a good football player, of course. He was considered a first-round prospect by practically everyone. He was a productive, consistent player for a great Clemson program.
It just seemed a bit early. Yahoo Sports’ Eric Edholm had Ferrell as his 15th best prospect in the draft class. Many mock drafts had Ferrell in the first round, just not in the top four.
Ferrell is a good two-way player who can defend the run and pass. He was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and won the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top defensive end. He had 53 tackles (19.5 for loss), 11.5 sacks and three forced fumbles for a team that won a national title.
That’s what Gruden and his new general manager Mike Mayock are betting on.
Jon Gruden isn’t afraid to take chances
After last season, with the Mack trade and a year of off-the-wall moves that were mostly ridiculed, the Raiders could have played it safe.
Gruden came in his first year and was unconventional, and he didn’t listen to groupthink this time either. The Raiders need talent, especially on defense.
In many ways Ferrell is a safe pick, a good all-around player who was consistently good for a tremendous program. It’s hard to believe he won’t be at least solid for the Raiders for many years.
But will he be great? Could he be the next Khalil Mack? How good Ferrell becomes will help define a hugely important draft for Gruden.