The Green Bay Packers defense has been underwhelming at times in recent seasons. However, Kenny Clark has certainly earned some positive reviews.
He was the 27th overall selection by then-Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson. Defensive tackle Kenny Clark was a standout with the UCLA Bruins and the Pack was hoping he could bolster the team's front.
The 6-foot-3, 314-pound interior presence has been pretty reliable since entering the league. Clark has played in 106 of a possible 114 regular-season contests and made a combined 92 starts, including all 17 games in 2022. He's totaled 26.5 sacks, forced five fumbles, racked up six fumble recoveries and batted down seven passes.
Clark has been a positive in the postseason despite the Packers' failure to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2010 (XLV).
This past season, he led all Green Bay defensive linemen with 53 stops. Clark finished third on the club behind outside linebackers Preston Smith (8.5) and Rashan Gary (6.0) with four sacks.
Packers DT Kenny Clark is among NFL's most underrated players
According to a high ranking NFL official quoted by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Packers have quite the performer in the seven-year performer and two-time Pro Bowler: "Complete player with a relentless motor, doesn't take plays off, very underrated in my opinion. Plays the run and pass equally well."
Matt LaFleur's club will likely need all it can get from Clark and more this upcoming season. With young quarterback Jordan Love taking over for four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, there figures to be a learning curve early on in regards to the Packers' offense.
Still, consider that Joe Barry's defensive unit finished in the middle of the league this past season in terms of the yardage rankings. Green Bay was 17th in the NFL in total defense. Only six clubs allowed more rushing yards per game than the Packers, which is one reason the team gave up the sixth-fewest passing yards per outing in the league.
What does this mean? The underrated Clark apparently needs a little more help up front and by Green Bay's inside linebacking corps when it comes to stopping opponents on the ground.