Name: Clelin Ferrell
Position: Defensive end
School: Clemson
Ht/Wt: 6-4, 264
40-yard dash: (did not run)
Bench: 25 reps
Vertical: (did not jump)
Broad: (did not jump)
3-cone: 7.26 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.4 seconds
How he fits: Ferrell is a highly productive edge player, who proved over the last three years at Clemson to be good both as a pass rusher and edge setter against the run. Ferrell has played a lot of football in three years, and comes into the NFL with a ton of experience. He completed his college career with 166 tackles, 50 tackles for loss, 27.0 sacks, 51 quarterback pressures, seven pass breakups and five forced fumbles in 2,167 snaps over 44 games (all starts) the last three seasons.
The Lions made a big splash into free agency and signed the top pass rusher available in Trey Flowers. They also re-signed last year's team sack leader in Romeo Okwara. That's a solid pair at the top of the depth chart, but Detroit still has to improve its depth and talent level behind Flowers and Okwara. Teams can never have too many pass rushers.
Key observations: Ferrell was an All-ACC performer and winner of the Ted Hendricks Award (top defensive end in college football) this past season. Despite playing only three seasons, his 44 starts were the most by any defensive end/outside linebacker in Clemson school history. He finished his Clemson career ranked tied for fourth in school history with 27 sacks, tied with William "Refrigerator" Perry.
View photos of NFL prospect Clelin Ferrell.
Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell participates in a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Sunday, March. 3, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell (99) works against Georgia Tech during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine on Sunday, March 3, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell participates in a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Sunday, March. 3, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine on Sunday, March 3, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 3, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell does the bench press drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Louisville quarterback Jawon Pass scrambles out of the pocket while pursued by Clemson's Clelin Ferrell (99) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2018, file photo, Clemson's Clelin Ferrell (99) rushes into the backfield during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Georgia Southern in Clemson, S.C. Clemson’s defensive line came into the season with a ton of hype after Christian Wilkins, Austin Bryant and Ferrell all bypassed the chance to go to the NFL after 2017. Ferrell, an explosive pass rusher, has the most NFL upside. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
Georgia Tech running back Qua Searcy (1) is hit by Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell (99) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Clemson's Clelin Ferrell does a stretching exercise while warming up during NFL Pro Day football Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Duke quarterback Daniel Jones scrambles out of the pocket while pursued by Clemson's Clelin Ferrell during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Clemson's Clelin Ferrell answers a question during a news conference at the NCAA Atlantic Coast Conference college football media day in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, July 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Portrait of Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell during the NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Clemson's Clelin Ferrell reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Clemson, S.C. Clemson won 41-7. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Clemson's Clelin Ferrell, center, walks the field during NFL Pro Day Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell (99) works against Georgia Tech during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Clemson defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell (99) works against Notre Dame offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg (74) during the NCAA Cotton Bowl semi-final playoff football game, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Boston College back-up quarterback EJ Perry, left, tries to get away from Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Clemson's Clelin Ferrell (99) sacks Georgia Southern quarterback Shai Werts during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Clemson, S.C. Clemson won 38-7. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
What they had to say about him: "Ferrell has excellent size, length and power. As a pass rusher, he lacks an elite get-off, but he has an effective dip/rip move and can generate some knockback with his hands. He has some stiffness at the top of his rush, but his effort is outstanding and he's a finisher once he gets to the quarterback. Against the run, he can hold the point of attack and does a nice job shedding blocks. Overall, Ferrell lacks elite athleticism, but I love his combination of size, effort and production." – Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Analyst
How he stacks up: Ferrell comes in at No. 22 on Jeremiah's list of the top 50 prospects in this draft. He's the fifth best pass rusher on that list behind Nick Bosa, Josh Allen, Rashan Gary and Montez Sweat.
Ferrell is No. 23 on Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest big board of the top 25 prospects in the draft.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler put Ferrell at No. 15 in his list of the top 100 prospects. He's No. 17 on CBS Sports' ranking of the top prospects.
What he had to say: "I just feel like my versatility is something that is very, very important when I feel like you talk about my game," Ferrell said at the Combine. "I feel like that has always given me an edge as far as giving me a benefit on the field. Not only just my versatility as a player – I can play defensive end, I played some defensive tackle this past year, 3 technique. I've also dropped into coverage, outside linebacker.
"But not only just doing those things, but I feel like I've done them at consistently a high level. That's always given me a bit of confidence as far as my play. And I've done it against the best competition playing at Clemson, so that was a blessing as well."
