As Star Defensive Tackles Get Paid, Clark Waits

The market for NFL defensive tackles has exploded, with Derrick Brown the latest to cash in. A monster contract extension for Kenny Clark presumably is on the horizon.

Author:
Bill Huber
Apr 06, 2024

In this story:

Free Agency

Kenny Clark

Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers salary cap

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Over the past 13 months, eight defensive tackles have signed contracts worth at least $90 million.

Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark isn’t driven by money. But, somewhere back in his home state of California, he no doubt has taken note and knows he’ll perhaps be among the next to cash in.

Clark is poised to enter the final season of a four-year, $70 million contract extension inked in August 2020. It’s still wild to consider that Clark won’t turn 29 until about a month into his ninth NFL season. Coming off a third Pro Bowl selection, he is a premier player at a premier position. And while he’s not at the start of the prime of his career, he’s not exactly at the end of it, either.

In a way, it’s a bit surprising that Clark isn’t already watching the interest accrue on the signing bonus of that new contract. He is due a base salary of $15.555 million this season. Along with almost $10.5 million of prorated signing bonus plus roster and workout bonuses, his salary-cap charge for the upcoming season is a lofty $27.49 million. That’s the second-highest figure among all interior defenders, according to OverTheCap.com.

A contract extension done before the start of NFL free agency would have taken a big slice out of that figure, given the team more spending money and made sure one of the team’s best players would remain in Green Bay over the long haul.

It seemed like the ultimate win-win.

For instance, the Raiders this offseason signed free-agent Christian Wilkins to a four-year deal worth $110 million, which included a $24 million signing bonus and $57.5 million guaranteed.

His 2024 cap charge? A paltry $10.3 million.

Using the structure of Wilkins’ contract as an outline (and including Clark’s current cap proration, which will come along for the ride), general manager Brian Gutekunst could have created another $6.7 million to spend in free agency, according to Packers cap expert Ken Ingalls. Greater savings would have been available with a 2024 base salary less than Wilkins’ $5 million.

But getting that done a month ago wasn’t a priority for the team, so that train has left the station. Free agency – at least the difference-making parts of free agency – is over. Any savings from a potential extension would be added to Green Bay’s considerable salary-cap cushion.

The Packers entered the day with about $21.9 million of cap space. That’ll be more than enough to sign the draft class and handle Jordan Love’s forthcoming contract extension, which he can sign as early as May 3. When De’Vondre Campbell comes off the books after June 1, the Packers will get another $10.57 million of cap space.

While all that cap space won’t add another Xavier McKinney-style player to a 2024 roster that should have the Super Bowl as the goal, it can be passed onto 2025. Dollars saved today will help keep a young core intact.

Of course, the salary cap isn’t the only reason to extend Clark. It’s not even the main reason.

Clark is one of the team’s best players. Period. Yes, he’s probably an “old” 28, having played almost 6,000 regular-season snaps of defense and special teams in eight seasons. But Clark has shown no signs of slowing down. In 2023, when he played all 17 games for a second consecutive season and logged the second-most snaps of his career, Clark set career highs with 7.5 sacks, nine tackles for losses and 16 quarterback hits.

There are plenty of defensive tackles in the NFL who play good run defense. There are fewer who can rush the passer.

There aren’t many like Clark who are a three-down menace.

According to league data, Green Bay’s run defense was 0.18 yards per play better with Clark on the field. Of the 16 defenders to play at least 450 snaps last year, that was second-best behind only fellow defensive lineman TJ Slaton (0.32). Meanwhile, Green Bay’s pass defense was 0.51 yards per play better when Clark was on the field. Of the 16 defenders with 450-plus snaps, that was fifth-best.

According to Pro Football Focus, of the 77 interior linemen to have at least 250 pass-rushing snaps, Clark ranked eighth in pass-rushing productivity, which measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-rushing opportunity, and 18th in pass-rush win rate.

For a team that’s positioned to be a championship contender for years, the Packers must keep Clark. There just aren’t many players like him in the NFL. There certainly isn’t anyone like him in the upcoming draft.

With free agency largely complete, time isn’t of the essence – though Clark didn’t get any less expensive on Friday, when the Carolina Panthers and Derrick Brown agreed to a four-year, $96 million contract. The money to keep Clark for another three or four years is going to be huge.

And worth it.