The 49ers lost two defensive ends on Tuesday. On Wednesday they added one.
San Francisco signed former No. 4 overall pick Clelin Ferrell to a one-year deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Ferrell will likely compete for time with last year’s second-round pick Drake Jackson at the edge position opposite Nick Bosa.
Ferrell hasn’t lived up to his draft status since being selected by the Raiders in 2019. In four seasons, the former Clemson All-American had 10 sacks. His situation reminds one of Arden Key, another Raiders flameout who 49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek got 6.5 sacks out of in 2021.
Though he’s never put up decent sack numbers, Ferrell’s advanced stats have looked good at times. In 2020, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 16th most effective player in the league at his position.
Ferrell is one of four signings for the 49ers in the first three days of the free agency period, also bringing in DL Javon Hargrave, QB Sam Darnold and re-signing OL Jake Brendel.