The Las Vegas Raiders have had their share of draft-day misfires over the years, but they’ve recently found some light at the end of the tunnel. First-round picks Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty are showing promise-Bowers bringing versatility and athleticism at tight end, and Jeanty flashing dynamic potential in the backfield. While the team hasn’t yet turned that young talent into consistent wins, there’s no question the foundation is starting to take shape.
But for every bright spot like Bowers or Jeanty, there’s a long list of first-round swings that didn’t connect. The Raiders’ draft history over the past decade has been littered with names that never quite lived up to expectations-some due to off-field issues, others due to underwhelming production.
Damon Arnette, Henry Ruggs, and Johnathan Abram are just a few examples of picks that never made it to the end of their rookie deals in Silver and Black. And then there are the quieter disappointments-players like Clelin Ferrell and Tyree Wilson, whose struggles have been less dramatic but just as impactful in the long run.
Ferrell’s name in particular stands out. Drafted fourth overall in 2019 when the team was still in Oakland, Ferrell was a surprise pick at the time-and unfortunately, his on-field performance never quite justified the selection.
As a rookie, he posted 4.5 sacks, but it was fellow rookie Maxx Crosby, a fourth-rounder, who stole the spotlight. Over the next three seasons, Ferrell totaled just 5.5 sacks and faded into a rotational role before leaving the team after the 2022 season.
That departure helped set the stage for the Raiders’ decision to draft Tyree Wilson at No. 7 overall in 2023, hoping to finally land a long-term solution on the edge. Wilson is still trying to find his footing in year three, but Ferrell’s post-Raiders journey has taken a surprising turn.
After bouncing around-including a stint on the Chargers’ practice squad-Ferrell found his way back to the San Francisco 49ers in late October. And since returning, he’s been playing the best football of his career.
In just four games with the 49ers this season, Ferrell has racked up 4.0 sacks, four quarterback hits, 14 total tackles, and four tackles for loss. His Week 13 performance against the Cleveland Browns was a breakout: two sacks, nine tackles, two tackles for loss, and two QB hits. That game marked a career-high in total and solo tackles, tied his best mark for tackles for loss, and was just his third multi-sack game since entering the league.
It’s the kind of production the Raiders hoped for when they took him with a top-five pick back in 2019. And while it’s coming a few years-and a few jerseys-later, Ferrell is finally showing he can be a disruptive presence off the edge. For the 49ers, a team that’s needed depth and juice in its pass rush, Ferrell has stepped up in a big way.
There’s no changing the past, and it’s not Ferrell’s fault he was drafted higher than most expected. That decision falls squarely on the shoulders of the Raiders’ former front office.
But now, in San Francisco, Ferrell is rewriting the narrative. He may not have been the star the Raiders hoped for, but he’s proving he can still be a valuable NFL player-and that’s a win for him, even if it stings a bit for Las Vegas.