Clelin Ferrell, “I am a Raider for Life.”

The Las Vegas Raiders' General Manager Dave Ziegler has a lot of questions to answer as he retools his roster for 2023, one of which is Clelin Ferrell.

HENDERSON, Nev.--When young people join the NFL each year, as a beat writer, you have a front-row seat to watching them mature and grow as people and players.

We watched as defensive end Clelin Ferrell dominated as a star for the Clemson Tigers in college. But selected by the then Oakland Raiders, he has seen significant ups and downs in his time with the franchise.

I recently caught up with him in the locker room, and I enjoyed my conversation with him as usual. He was very open about the transition he has experienced since joining the Silver and Black, not just the move from Oakland to Las Vegas.

“I think from a player's focus it has made my mental toughness a lot stronger," Ferrell said. "When you deal with so many different things, in an organization, on the field, off the field, the front office the coaching staff changing, many people coming and going, you have to really learn what you can focus and control.”

But Las Vegas is a great city, and its exceptional opportunities also provide opportunities to make poor choices, something the down-to-earth Ferrell was able to navigate around easily.

Ferrell said: “Being a group of guys, a lot of them are millionaires now living in a city like Las Vegas for this very first time ever. It can be very big task trying to get everybody to buy in to things. I think for me, it is just really understanding mentally, and letting guys know it’s gotta be in moderation.”

Elaborating on Las Vegas, Ferrell said: “This is a city that there is a lot of opportunity here, and there is also a lot of opportunity to get yourself in trouble. Just the aspect of understanding that you are an adult, and I tell everybody to enjoy your life, but at the same time, we came here for a common goal. As long as you keep chasing that common goal, you will always be here.” 

With the Raiders choosing not to exercise Ferrell’s fifth-year option, he waits to ascertain his future. Will he be back or playing somewhere else?

Ferrell said: “It is not super stressful for me. You know I feel like I am a mature player, and a veteran in this league now. …You have to understand that business is a part of it, for me I have a really good agent and I feel like I have a really good base here. At the end of the day, I don’t think it matters what anyone has to say, I am a Raider for life. No fan, no coach, player, even my teammates couldn’t tell me anything different, so I think I am at peace with whatever happens.”

While it has been a terrific experience watching the young Ferrell grow up, he is not the young man he was when he arrived four years ago. That maturity showed when he expressed how he would handle these next few months.

“I am focused on being the best player I can be," Ferrell said. "I love it here; it is just home. It will always be home. I think it is just something that I will stay focused and locked in, and when I get a phone call, I get a phone call.”

There is no doubt the phone will ring, and Ferrell will play in the NFL in 2023. The only question is who will be on the other end of the phone when it rings.

The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. On March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. During that time, starting at 12 p.m. EST on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EST on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m EST on March 15.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EST on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

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