Fansided

3 surprise cuts the Raiders can make this offseason

By Russell S. Baxter

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 25: Kenyan Drake #23 of the Las Vegas Raiders carries the ball as Cory Littleton #42 of the Las Vegas Raiders tries to tackle at AT&T Stadium on November 25, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 25: Kenyan Drake #23 of the Las Vegas Raiders carries the ball as Cory Littleton #42 of the Las Vegas Raiders tries to tackle at AT&T Stadium on November 25, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
CINCINNATI, OHIO – JANUARY 15: Defensive end Clelin Ferrell #99 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on during the closing seconds of the Raiders 26-19 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals during the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium on January 15, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO – JANUARY 15: Defensive end Clelin Ferrell #99 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on during the closing seconds of the Raiders 26-19 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals during the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium on January 15, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

1. DE Clelin Ferrell

The defensive side of the ball for the Silver and Black has been an issue for far too long. You have to go way back to 2006 to find the last time the Raiders fielded a defense that finished in the Top 10 in terms of total yards allowed. Ironically, when star Khalil Mack was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2016, the club allowed 24.1 points per game and 45 offensive touchdowns in 16 outings.

So back in 2019, the then-Oakland Raiders had three first-round picks. The team used latter selections in round one on running back Josh Jacobs (24th) and safety Johnathan Abram (27th). But with the fourth overall pick, the franchise opted for University of Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell. And while he did not draft himself, the talented prospect has never really lived up to the team’s lofty expectations.

In his first two seasons, the 6’4”, 265-pound defender played and started in a combined 26 games. There were a combined 6.5 sacks and eight passes defensed.

dark. Next. Each NFL team’s all-time greatest moment

In 2021, Ferrell played in a combined 17 contests – including the playoff loss at Cincinnati. He never made a start and finished with 1.5 sacks. Meanwhile, the Raiders’ duo of Maxx Crosby and newcomer Yannick Ngakoue combined for 18 of the team’s 35 QB traps.

Home/Las Vegas Raiders