The Green Bay Packers are turning over a new leaf at multiple positions on their roster heading into 2023. The one that has garnered the most attention, and rightfully so, is Jordan Love taking over for the legendary Aaron Rodgers.
Love will have his hands full leading a very young Packers’ offense. Defensively, there are some spots of youthfulness, but there will be some veterans to lean on. One of those veterans is defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
Clark is not yet in his prime, as he turns 28 in October, but he will be leaned on for a leadership role on the team. It is a role that he is excited to fill heading into the season as Green Bay lost a lot of veteran help in the trenches this offseason.
Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed both departed in free agency, creating a void of over 1,000 snaps that need to be filled. Clark will be leading the charge along with Davonte Wyatt, who was a first-round pick of the Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft, T.J. Slaton and Chris Slayton.
The younger Packers defensive linemen have a great player to learn from as Clark was recently recognized as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. While he didn’t make the top 10 list that ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler compiled from executives, coaches and scouts around the league, Clark was selected as an honorable mention.
“Clark had a season-high seven QB pressures, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in Week 17 against the Vikings. “Complete player with a relentless motor, doesn’t take plays off, very underrated in my opinion,” a high-ranking NFL official said. “Plays the run and pass equally well.””
Clark is a two-time Pro Bowler and is entering his eighth season with the Packers after being a first-round pick in 2016 out of UCLA. He has been a steady presence as the first line of defense for years and should have plenty of good football left knocking on the door of his athletic prime.
An every-down player capable of producing in every facet of the game, Clark could certainly move up the list of defensive tackles in due time. Multiple players in this year’s top-10 made the jump from honorable mention or unranked last year.