When assessing the Washington Redskins' defensive line situation, NFL.com analyst and former Redskins general manager Charley Casserly puts it bluntly.
"The Redskins have been looking for a pass rusher for years," Casserly wrote in his latest mock draft April 9.
That's why Casserly has the Redskins taking Clemson edge defender Clelin Ferrell with the 15th-overall pick.
In three seasons at Clemson, Ferrell appeared in 44 games tallying 164 tackles, including 50 for loss with 27 sacks, five forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
In 2018, Ferrell was named the recipient of the Ted Hendricks award, presented annually to college football's top defensive end. He was additionally named a consensus first-team All-American, and ACC Defensive Player of the Year after recording 53 tackles and 11.5 sacks.
As a sophomore in 2017, the 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive end joined fellow Clemson alum and current NFL players Sammy Watkins and Deshaun Watson as just the third freshman or sophomore Tiger to earn AP All-American honors. Ferrell finished second in the ACC with 9.5 sacks and again finished as a finalist for the Ted Hendrick's award.
As a freshman in 2016, after red-shirting 2015, Ferrell burst onto the scene sharing the rookie defensive player of the year award with fellow D-lineman Dexter Lawrence. He went on to produce 50 tackles, including 12.5 for loss with six sacks, to go along with a team-high 24 quarterback pressures in 15 games (15 starts).
According to his Draft Network profile, Ferrell possesses "first step/early jump off the ball quickness that varies from really good to crazy good at times. Has a deep arsenal of moves that make him tough to figure out off the snap."
The profile adds that he has an "ability to attack in a variety of ways coupled with his vision allows him to win as a pass rusher despite athletic limitations. Cross chops, rips, inside swims, stutter-steps and long arms are all arrows in his quiver. Powerful hands, has clubbed and bull rushed offensive linemen aside to get to the quarterback."
