The Mike Mayock era started with a bit of a surprise Thursday night in the 2019 NFL Draft.
In their first draft with general manager Mayock and coach Jon Gruden at the Raiders' helm, they selected defensive end Clelin Ferrell with the No. 4 overall pick.
Though Ferrell was an All-American at Clemson as a junior and recorded 11.5 sacks last season, many expected him to go later in the draft. Some teams even had a second-round grade on him, NFL Media's Tom Pelissero reported.
There were teams with 2nd-round grades on Clelin Ferrell. #Raiders may have just outsmarted everyone, but "bold" would be an understatement for the first pick of the Mayock/Gruden era.— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 26, 2019
To say the least, plenty of people were shocked to hear Ferrell's name called that high, especially with Kentucky's Josh Allen and Houston's Ed Oliver still on the board.
Sports
Oakland is CONFUSED pic.twitter.com/v2Im5lnwb1— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 26, 2019
Gruden to everyone's mock draft right now... pic.twitter.com/svT36KUbjg— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) April 26, 2019
Raiders select Clelin Ferrell with the fourth overall pick pic.twitter.com/B4JlaMn0y4— SI Extra Mustard (@SI_ExtraMustard) April 26, 2019
At No. 4, the first of their three first-rounders, the #Raiders and new GM Mike Mayock take #Clemson DE Clelin Ferrell. FOR REAL. They said it would be a surprise...— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 26, 2019
Clelin Ferrell is good. But over Josh Allen and Ed Oliver?— Ian Kenyon (@IanKenyonNFL) April 26, 2019
Clelin Ferrell to the Raiders and fans are confused 🤨 pic.twitter.com/W6c8T2QWhu— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 26, 2019
But Raiders players are welcoming Ferrell to Oakland with open arms.
Welcome to the squad young bull @Cle_Missile let's get to work!! #RaiderNation ☠️☠️— Josh Mauro (@JustJoshin90) April 26, 2019
I know what meeting room I'm going to for snacks 🤣 #DLine #RookieDuties— Erik Harris (@e_harris_31) April 26, 2019
Welcome to the Nation @Cle_Missile let's get to work.💀🦍🦍🦍— Tahir Whitehead (@Big_Tah47) April 26, 2019
Rookie minicamp opens next week, so the Raiders will have their first look at Ferrell in Silver and Black then. They'll quickly know if he was the right choice.
