Tag: DE Clelin Ferrell

Formern Commanders DE James Smith-Williams signs with Falcons

Smith-Williams’ departure makes it official. The book on the 2020 NFL draft is closed in Washington.

In the latest free agent signings, James Smith-Williams has departed the Commanders to join the Falcons on a one-year deal.

Drafted in the seventh round (No. 229) in the 2020 draft by Washington, the former North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive end played four seasons for the Burgundy and Gold.

When Chase Young went down in 2021 with a season-ending knee injury, Smith-Williams noticeably improved the Commanders defense for the remainder of the season. His defense against the run proved to be a contributing factor to the team winning four consecutive games when he entered the lineup.

He started the last six games of that 2021 season, recording 30 tackles (11 solo, 19 assisted), including four for a loss, 2.5 quarterback sacks, and five additional QB hits.

Smith-Williams started 14 games in the 2022 season, contributing 23 tackles (12 solo, 11 assisted), including five tackles for a loss, three QB sacks and 16 QB hits.

In his final season (2023) in Washington, injuries limited him to 13 games (7 starts), 22 tackles (11 solo, 11 assists), two tackles for a loss, one quarterback sack, and eight quarterback hits.

Here are highlights from his last two Washington seasons.

When the 2024  free agent signing period launched in March, the Commanders new administration determined to sign Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Dante Fowler Jr. both defensive ends who had played for new head coach Dan Quinn in Dallas.

Then, the Commanders signed Clelin Ferrell, a former 49ers defensive end, whom new GM Adam Peters knew from his time as the assistant general manager in San Francisco.

The Commanders had also determined, this offseason, to re-sign Efe Obada over Smith-Williams. Obada has played both inside and outside on passing downs, accumulating 15 career sacks in his 74 NFL games played.

A couple of things are noteworthy. New Falcons free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins has the same agent as Smith-Williams (Priority Sports & Entertainment), and current Falcons assistant general manager Kyle Smith was with Washington and ran the draft board during the 2020 draft, Ron Rivera’s first with Washington.

Commanders new DE Clelin Ferrell: ‘I don’t expect anything’

Clelin Ferrell grew up a Washington fan and fondly recalls some of his memories.

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.”