The Commanders have signed an NFL player who grew up a Washington Redskins fan.
Former San Franciso 49ers defensive end Clelin Ferrell, who last week signed a one-year deal with Washington, met with the media on Monday.
Ferrell talked of growing up in Richmond, of attending some training camp days back when the Redskins trained in Richmond.
He also mentioned that he was actually in attendance at the 2012 season Playoff game at FedEx Field between Seattle and Washington. That game took place on January 6, 2013. Consequently, Ferrell was a 15-year-old high school student.
Today, 11 years after that playoff loss to the Seahawks, Ferrell sat before the media, enjoying the fact that he was now, for the first time, a part of the Washington franchise.
“I wanted to be a part of a place where we could really build, and what better place than where I grew up?”
His assistant defensive line coach in San Francisco was Darryl Tapp. Tapp played for the Redskins for one season (2013). When asked if Tapp coming to the Commanders coaching staff influenced his decision to play for Washington, Ferrell responded, “It was major. He is one of the biggest reasons why I am here. Obviously Tapps is homegrown too, he’s from Virginia…He’s someone who can bring the best out of me.”
Ferrell, who played his college ball at Clemson, was selected fourth overall by the Raiders in the 2019 NFL draft. His career has not gone as anticipated for one being drafted so high.
In his four seasons with the Raiders, he started 15 games in his first season, and 11 in his second. Though he played in 16 and 17 games his last two Raiders seasons, he started only a startling 0 and 4 games.
In his one season with the 49ers (2023), he started all 17 games, produced 3.5 sacks, 6 tackles for a loss, and 13 QB hits. These are not what was expected for a fourth-overall selection.
He turns 27 in May, yet there remains the fact that Adam Peters still only offered Ferrell this one-year deal and that Ferrell accepted the offer. In being the fourth overall selection five seasons ago, did he apparently not receive a three-year deal that would have taken him through his age-29 season?
GM Adam Peters, in signing Ferrell to this one-year contract, has provided Ferrell with an incentive to produce. If he produces enough, he will have the opportunity to sign another contract.
When asked what he expects from his role with the Commanders, Ferrell responded, “I don’t expect anything. I think for me the biggest thing is that I am going to earn everything I get. I know we start on April 2…In the end, I want to be somebody who is respected, who earns everything that anyone gives them.”