Assessing Washington Redskins First-Round Options: EDGE Clelin Ferrell

Jacob Camenker

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Clelin Ferrell #99 of the Clemson Tigers react against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The Washington Redskins have a lot of potential directions for their first-round pick. They could opt to target an edge rusher, and Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell would make sense.

There are few teams in the NFL that have as many pervasive needs as the Washington Redskins. Once considered to be a team on the rise, injuries destroyed the team for a second straight season and have put the career of starting quarterback Alex Smith in jeopardy. With another season of questions at quarterback, the Redskins will have a tough time remaining very competitive. So, this will be a mini-rebuilding year for the squad.

Though the team needs depth all-around, they still have the building blocks needed to contend in the near future. They have some good young players at running back, on the defensive line, and at corner, and they just need to focus on improving some problem areas including the offensive line, safety, and edge rusher. Quarterback is also included there, but the team may opt to wait on taking a highly sought after QB until 2020.

Because of the many needs the team has and the nature of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Redskins are going to have many options with their first-round pick. Realistically, they will consider players at any position saving for running back and interior defensive line. And even still, they could consider the latter if a truly elite value was on the board.

In the months leading up to the 2019 draft, we’ll be taking a look at many of the first-round options that the ‘Skins have. Here’s a look at an intriguing player that could interest them on the edge, Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell.

COLUMBIA, SC – NOVEMBER 25: Clelin Ferrell #99 of the Clemson Tigers reacts after a play against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Scouting Clelin Ferrell

When looking at the measurables and watching the tape, it’s easy to fall in love with Ferrell. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound man played end in Clemson’s 4-3 defense and did a lot to turn that squad into one of college football’s best.

Ferrell was one of the more accomplished edge rushers in college football over the course of the past few seasons. Ferrell has posted 20 total sacks in the past two years with a whopping 38 tackles for loss. Additionally, he has forced five fumbles in the past two years and did a lot to help his other talented teammates, like Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence, find opportunities to break into the backfield.

Ferrell has a good first step and solid athletic ability. He’s not quite as quick as he appeared to be during his junior year, but he still has good enough athleticism. He knows how to use strength and athleticism and will be a do-it-all player on the edge in any scheme, though his fit in the 4-3 is decidedly best.

How Ferrell would fit with the Redskins

One of the biggest needs that the Redskins have comes on the edge. While their defensive line is looking like one of the strongest units on the team for the foreseeable future, the team lacks quality players that can get consistent pressure on the outside. And their thin depth there may only get worse in the coming months.

Preston Smith is set to hit free agency, and though the ‘Skins have expressed an interest in keeping him, there reportedly haven’t been meaningful negotiations from either side. Smith is young and hyper-athletic, so he will certainly generate interest. This is especially true considering that he may be one of the top pass rushers that actually hits the open market, as many other top players at the position are franchise tag candidates.

While Smith’s counting numbers aren’t always good, he does consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks and has an impact on plays. He can be prone to hot and cold stretches, but he’s still solid. And if he leaves, the team will miss him.

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Without Smith on the roster, the team would be left with Ryan Kerrigan, who turns 31 in August, and Ryan Anderson, a former second-round pick who has yet to live up to his billing, as the top two rushers. And the depth behind them? Cassanova McKinzy is the only rush linebacker under contract aside from that duo. So, needless to say, the team will have to add depth and potential star power at that position to avoid it becoming a weakness.

This is where Ferrell comes in. Ferrell would be a more consistent — albeit less athletic — version of Smith. He could work across from Kerrigan for a couple of seasons and become the team’s top edge presence. He can win in more ways than one, as his combination of strength, motor, and speed will make him a good fit in Washington. He has the potential to be a Kerrigan-type player, though that isn’t the perfect pro comparison for him.

The point here is that Ferrell would be a double-digit sack threat. Pairing Ferrell long-term with the three-man unit of Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, and Matt Ioannidis would be great for the Washington stop unit. That’s something that could really bring the Redskins defense to the next level.

Should the Redskins take Clelin Ferrell?

Obviously, it’s far too early to tell whether or not it will be sensible for the Redskins to take Ferrell. But, at this point, it seems possible that he could be one of the best players on the board. So, at the very least, they should certainly consider it.

The decision about what to do in Round 1 will revolve around what ultimately happens with some of their key free agents. If the Redskins lose Smith, they will certainly consider top pass rushers in the opening frame. They figure to be in good position to land an edge player in a well above-average class at the position, and Round 1 could be their chance to grab a blue-chip player to replace Smith.

Of course, there remains an outside chance that Smith returns to Washington and reprises his starting role across from Kerrigan. That wouldn’t necessarily preclude the ‘Skins from taking Ferrell in Round 1 — the BPA strategy still has merits, and Ferrell would play a key role as depth. But, if they have other glaring weaknesses and similar grades on a player at a position of need, that could make Ferrell too costly to pick. They would then target depth on Days 2 and 3 of the draft.

For the moment, it’s clear that Ferrell is a solid option and should garner some consideration. And taking him as opposed to, say, a quarterback would probably be the smart move. Ferrell is a fairly safe prospect with a high floor and a high ceiling. Grabbing him at 15 to continue to build the defense could help to jumpstart the team’s mini-rebuild as they search for a quality quarterback to take the reigns.

Jacob Camenker