The Green Bay Packers spent the offseason getting younger while also striving to improve. Moving on from Aaron Jones to Josh Jacobs will be a “wait and see” move. However, it is safe to conclude that the signing of 24-year-old safety Xavier McKinney will significantly improve their defense.
Another excellent defensive player’s time with the Packers could be coming to an end, based on recent developments.
The Green Bay Packers have been looking into defensive Lineman
Freddie Boston of FanSided noted what the Packers have been doing recently:
The Packers may already be planning for life without great defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who will enter his eighth season in 2024. Clark is a three-time Pro Bowler who is coming off one of his best seasons, but his long-term future in Green Bay remains unknown.
Clark has one year remaining on his contract and will turn 29 in October. Aside from quarterbacks, the Packers rarely sign players to a third deal. Davante Adams did not receive a third contract. Neither did Clay Matthews, Corey Linsley, Bryan Bulaga, or Greg Jennings—the list goes on. Green Bay did sign David Bakhtiari to a third deal, but he only played 19 games due to injuries.
Clark has the team’s highest cap hit of $27.49 million this season, which the Packers might reduce by handing him a long-term agreement.
The Packers have expressed an interest in the rookie defensive line class. Two players to keep an eye on are Michael Hall Jr. from Ohio State and Khristian Boyd from Northern Iowa.
According to The Athletic’s Zac Jackson, the Packers will host Hall for a Top 30 visit. He is a potential second-round pick who could compensate for some of the Packers’ interior pass-rush ability that would be lost without Clark. According to Dane Brugler of The Athletic, among defensive tackles in this year’s class, Hall had the second-best pass-rush win rate.
Boyd shared a photo from Lambeau Field last week, and Green Bay had previously met with him. According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, Boyd spoke with the Packers at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
For years, Kenny Clark has been a pillar of the Packers’ defense.
Clark, who was selected in 2021 and injured in 2019, had his third Pro Bowl appearance in 2023. In addition, he was appointed alternate in 2018. Only Henry Jordan (1960-61, 1963, 1966) and Clark have three or more Pro Bowl appearances for the Packers as defensive tackles.
Clark recorded a career-high 7.5 sacks (tied for the team lead) in 2023, as well as nine tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, three passes defensed, and 16 quarterback hits. In 2023, he was second on the squad with 50 Next Gen Stat QB pressures.
“My job is to be disruptive,” Clark explained. “To make plays while allowing other players to make plays around me.” That’s only my key. I just try to be as disruptive as possible, and when the opportunity arises, I must capitalize.”
“As for myself? When asked how he would rank his performance this season, Clark replied, “It’s definitely at the top.” “I’m just proud of how I performed, how I led this squad, and looking forward to the future, knowing that we have something good and that I have something to build on. “I’m excited about what we can do.”
