5 breakout stars to watch for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021
3. Clelin Ferrell, DE
There’s no getting around that Ferrell was a huge reach with the fourth overall pick in the 2019 draft, and his production through two seasons (6.5 sacks, 65 total tackles and 11 tackles for loss in 26 games) has confirmed it. He missed time last season due to a bought with COVID-19 and later a shoulder injury.
If the Raiders’ defense is going to improve in 2021, Ferrell will be a key cog. According to Pro Football Focus, he made some solid progress last year that needs to carry over. Pro Football Reference credited him with 21 quarterback pressures, 10 hurries and eight knockdowns.
Clelein Ferrell finished 4th out of 19 second year edge rushers in overall grade at 76.1. He was behind first rounders Montez Sweat and Brian Burns but did better than Josh Allen and Rashan Gary.
— PFF Las Vegas Raiders (@PFF_Raiders) January 23, 2021
Ferrell will probably never fully justify his draft status with eye-opening raw numbers. But the addition of Yannick Ngakoue to the Raiders’ defensive line will make it easier on every else, and the Clemson product will be one of the primary beneficiaries in his third season.