Ferrell’s Healthy Scratch Highlights Raiders Draft Woes

The Raiders’ 33-27 overtime victory last night over the Ravens overshadowed some unexpected news that came out before the game.

That news was that 2019 4th overall draft pick Clelin Ferrell was listed as a healthy scratch. The third-year defensive end is entering a pivotal year in his development, and it certainly is not off to a hot start. In fact, it’s more of the same for Ferrell and general manager Mike Mayock’s draft selections.

Ferrell was widely considered a reach in that draft, going before Buccaneers linebacker Devin White and Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen to name a couple. And in 26 games over the last two seasons, Ferrell has contributed just 6.5 sacks and 18 quarterback hits.

Meanwhile, Ferrell has been outplayed by fellow Raider defensive end and 2019 4th round selection Maxx Crosby. Crosby had 10 sacks in his rookie campaign and added two more last night, wreaking havoc on the Ravens’ offensive line.

At this point, it might be fair to call Ferrell a bust. That is a word we can throw around to many of Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden’s draft selections since they both took over in 2018.

Here are some of those key selections:

• OT Kolton Miller (2018 Round 1)
• DL P.J. Hall (2018 Round 2)
• OT Brandon Parker (2018 Round 3)
• DE Arden Key (2018 Round 3)
• DE Clelin Ferrell (2019 Round 1)
• RB Josh Jacobs (2019 Round 1)
• S Jonathan Abram (2019 Round 1)
• CB Trayvon Mullen (2019 Round 2)
• WR Henry Ruggs (2020 Round 1)
• CB Damon Arnette (2020 Round 1)
• WR Lynn Bowden Jr. (2020 Round 3)
• WR Bryan Edwards (2020 Round 3)

Now look at that list of first three round selections and try to find the playmakers. Hall and Bowden Jr. are no longer on the team. Parker, Key and Arnette are backups at their positions. The only one on that list who has been highly productive in his career thus far is Jacobs.

The draft misses have contributed to the Raiders being just 21-29 under Gruden with no playoff appearances. The misses at receiver have been the most egregious, and have caused quarterback Derek Carr to lean on tight end Darren Waller more than he should have to. That was obvious last night when Waller received a whopping 19 targets.

The win might signal a great start to the 2021 season, but the Raiders will still have a tough time making the playoffs this season.

The biggest part of that will be the lack of high end talent on the roster which is directly attributable to the draft misses during Gruden and Mayock’s tenures.