Detroit Lions – Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson
The impending free agency of Ziggy Ansah and subsequent lack of a pass rush in his absence this season have all but guaranteed that the Lions will go after an edge rusher early in 2019. Depending on how you look at it, they fortunately may be picking high enough to snag one of the top players in the class, Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell.
Ferrell is part of one of the most highly-touted position groups in all of college football on the Tigers’ defensive line, where he’s wreaked havoc since stepping on to campus. At 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, Ferrell has the coveted blend of power and athleticism that should make him a day one impact starter in the NFL.
Ferrell is already enjoying his best collegiate season to date for Clemson, tallying a career-high 10.5 sacks and 16.0 tackles for loss for a Tigers team that will once again be contenders for the national championship. Barring a catastrophic injury or significant off-field concerns, Ferrell is essentially a lock to land inside the top ten on draft day. Adding him to the Detroit would help offset the potential loss of Ansah and give Matt Patricia an excellent building block for his defense in year two.