Assessing Washington Redskins First-Round Options: EDGE Clelin Ferrell

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.