Report: Ex-Raiders DE Clelin Ferrell to sign with the San Francisco 49ers

Mar 15, 2023, 12:29 PM | Updated: 4:46 pm

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 18: Clelin Ferrell #99 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts during an NFL football game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

(Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

After a day of losses Tuesday, the 49ers have bounced back with the expected signing of defensive end Clelin Ferrell Wednesday.

Reports surfaced Wednesday that the San Francisco 49ers had reached an agreement with former fourth overall pick, Clelin Ferrell, for next season. The deal is reportedly for only one year, with contract specifics still to be released. Ferrell will get the chance to rehab his value across the league under the 49ers’ stellar coaching tree, mainly defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first with the news.

#49ers give DL coach Kris Kocurek his latest reclamation project: Ferrell, 25, the No. 4 pick in 2019, has 10 sacks in four seasons. https://t.co/RK1UpK3t5y

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) March 15, 2023

Ferrell, a Clemson standout, has wildly underperformed since joining the NFL in 2019. Only recording ten total sacks in four seasons, Las Vegas opted not to extend his fifth-year option. Starting in four games last season, Ferrell mustered up two sacks, 25 combined tackles and eight QB hits in 2022.

The hope for both the 49ers, and the player, is to restore the potential that made him a top-five pick a few years ago. Kocurek has had success with that in the past, turning Samson Ebukam and Charles Omenihu into every-down contributors. Losing both of them this week, the 49ers will have another project on the D-Line in Ferrell.

ARDEN KEY
-First-round pick
-3 sacks in 3 years with Raiders
-6.5 sacks in 1 year with 49ers, got paid 2x since

CLELIN FERRELL
-First-round pick
-10 sacks in 4 years with Raiders
-__ sacks in 1 year with 49ers?

As expected, SF is giving Kocurek ingredients to cook

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) March 15, 2023

Another example of the 49ers’ pedigree is DE Arden Key.

After three underwhelming seasons with the Sliver & Black, San Francisco took a flier on Key in 2021. The results: A career-high in sacks (6.5) and QB hits (17). Kocurek and new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks will hope to do the same for Ferrell, finally unlocking the potential he flashed at Clemson.

Time for Kris Kocurek to save Clelin Ferrell and make him a solid player for the #49ers DL 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6Bkzwomf9d

— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) March 15, 2023