Clelin Ferrell proving to be massive draft bust with latest roster decision

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell is a healthy scratch for MNF versus the Ravens, making the 2019 first-round draft pick seem like a bust.

Under the bright lights of Monday Night Football, players can either boost or bust their careers — but Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell won’t get the chance to do either.

In a shocking development hours before kickoff, the Raiders have listed Ferrell as inactive for their Monday night matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

According to various reports, Ferrell is a healthy scratch, meaning that he is listed as inactive although there is no illness or injury present. In Ferrell’s case, he had been battling a back injury in the week leading up to the Week 1 game and was listed on the team’s injury report. Despite this, he was a full participant at practice and did not receive an injury designation for the Ravens game.

The decision is devastating for Ferrell’s reputation, as he has been widely regarded as a draft bust during his short time in the NFL. In 2019, newly-appointed Raiders general manager Mike Mayock chose Ferrell with the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Since then, Ferrell has done little to contribute to the team that drafted him. In his rookie season, he logged 8 total tackles and 4.5 sacks, a meager result for a top-ranked pass rusher out of Clemson’s National Championship-winning team. In 2020, Ferrell’s numbers improved slightly with 27 total tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles.

In his place will stand pass rusher Maxx Crosby, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Yannick Ngakoue will rush from the other end, a hopeful improvement for the team that ranked 27th in the pass rush in 2020.