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Is Clelin Ferrell mean enough to be a dominant NFL player?

By Bryan Perez

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: A video board displays an image of Clelin Ferrell of Clemson after he was selected #4 overall by the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 25: A video board displays an image of Clelin Ferrell of Clemson after he was selected #4 overall by the Oakland Raiders during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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There are some in the Raiders organization questioning whether first-round pick Clelin Ferrell has what it takes to be a dominant player in the NFL.

Oakland Raiders general manager Mike Mayock shocked the NFL when he selected Clemson edge defender Clelin Ferrell with the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. And it’s not because Ferrell wasn’t a first-round talent; instead, he was a player many analysts assumed would be on Oakland’s radar with one of their other two first-rounders (No.s 24 and 27).

Ferrell was a productive edge rusher for the Tigers and quietly had one of the more effective seasons in the country in 2018 when he finished the year with 11.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss (both career highs). He had 27 sacks over three seasons of legitimate action at Clemson.

So, yeah, can get after the quarterback and he can make plays in the backfield. But does he have the mental makeup to be a great player in the NFL? According to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez, there are some in the Raiders organization who aren’t sure.

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Gutierrez, in ESPN’s progress report for all 32 first-round picks, suggested there’s concern over whether Ferrell is mean enough to be the kind of defensive standout Oakland is expecting he’ll become. It’s an odd question to be asking at this point, especially since he hasn’t had the chance to, you know, actually hit anyone.

It’s hard to imagine Ferrell not being mean enough to be a potentially dominant player in the pros. He was obviously mean enough to enjoy a significant level of success for one of the best programs in all of college football, and anyone who saw his reaction on draft night when he was selected by the Raiders will attest that he’s a young man overflowing with emotion and passion.

He’ll be just fine in the NFL, even if it takes him a year or so to adjust to the speed and power of professional offensive lines.

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