Pass rush off the edge will continue to be the 49ers’ biggest need in the 2019 NFL draft barring any major free agent acquisitions. They’re slated to pick third after nine weeks of action, which would still put them in good position to snag one of the draft’s top edge rushers. The latest Draft Wire mock draft has the 49ers landing Clemson EDGE Clelin Ferrell with the No. 3 overall pick.
Missing out on Ohio State’s Nick Bosa, who went No. 1 to the Raiders in this mock, wouldn’t be the end of the world if the 49ers can land a player like Ferrell.
He has ideal size (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) and length to go with the athleticism to either rush the passer with his hand in the dirt or standing up on the edge. San Francisco doesn’t have a true, dominant edge rusher. Ferrell would primarily play the LEO spot – a position the 49ers desperately need pass rush production from.
Ferrell is backing up an outstanding third year with an excellent fourth season for the No. 2-ranked Tigers. He has 12.5 tackles-for-loss and 7.5 sacks in nine games in the 2018 campaign.
He redshirted his first season, but came out on fire in his redshirt-freshman year with 6.0 sacks and 12.5 tackles-for-loss. In 37 games he has 43 tackles-for-loss and 23 sacks.
That’s the kind of productivity that should stand out to EDGE-needy teams like the 49ers. If San Francisco does wind up picking third, and they don’t have a shot at Bosa, Ferrell is a tremendous consolation prize who would make an impact on Day 1 for the 49ers.
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