There has been a lot of turnover on the Green Bay Packers defense over the last few years. One of the stalwarts of that unit has been defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
A first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of UCLA, Kenny Clark is heading into his ninth season with the Packers. Since starting only two of the 16 games he appeared in as a rookie, the former Bruin has been a regular in the starting lineup.
He has missed only eight games in his career, as he has been as reliable as they come in the trenches. Kenny Clark has been named to the Pro Bowl team three times in his career, including last season.
In 2023, he recorded a career-high 7.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits. His nine tackles for loss tied his career-high set in 2019, the first time he made a Pro Bowl team. That kind of consistent production is a big reason why Kenny Clark has landed on the PFF All-Decade Mock Draft.
Trevor Sikkema of PFF put together a mock draft with the best players at each draft slot since 2015. Kenny Clark made the mock draft as the No. 27 overall pick by the Packers in the 2016 NFL Draft.
One of the other players considered for the spot was cornerback Tre’Davious White, who was selected by the Buffalo Bills in 2017. The other was cornerback Byron Jones, picked by the Dallas Cowboys in 2015.
“Tre’Davious White had a fantastic rookie season but was never really able to replicate it. Byron Jones has also put together good seasons, but nothing at the elite level.
As for Clark, he earned back-to-back elite single-season grades in 2017 and 2018, and though he hasn’t hit that elite mark since, he has been a steady presence along the Packers’ defensive line. He gets the nod for his ceiling and longevity,” Sikkema wrote.
Turning only 29 in October, Kenny Clark is one of the oldest and most experienced players on the Packers roster. But, he has plenty left in the tank coming off one of the best seasons of his career.
He is excited to get to work under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who has more of an aggressive, attacking style than previous coordinator Joe Barry. That could lead to some big numbers being produced by Kenny Clark and other members of the Packers defense.
