Seahawks draft safety Bud Clark!
The Seahawks got a Clark, which I can definitely appreciate
My wife is going to be so happy. Our dog is named Clark and he’s certainly my best bud.
The Seahawks drafted TCU safety Bud Clark with the 64th pick of the 2026 draft. If he’s like the rest of Seattle’s DBs, he’s got that dog in him too.
Clark is Dane Brugler’s 84th-ranked player in the class. By that measure it might seem like a reach, but the Seahawks draft players for their team and not based on where the league thinks that prospect might rank in the class overall.
Seattle’s safety position has talented players from Julian Love to Nick Emmanwori and Ty Okada. However, a transition period is in motion with the departure of Coby Bryant to the Bears in free agency and Clark is John Schneider and Mike Macdonald’s choice to take them into the future.
Of all the safeties in Brugler’s draft guide, Clark’s 188 lbs is the lightest. (By comparison, my Clark weighed 21 lbs at the vet and they were concerned about it.)
He’s 6’ and ran a 4.41. Clark played six years of college.
Dane’s final summary:
A four-year starter at TCU, Clark was a versatile safety in defensive coordinator Andy Avalos’ 4-2-5 base scheme, rotating mostly between one-high and slot looks. He proved to be a ballhawk for the Horned Frogs over the past four seasons, with 35 passes defended and 15 interceptions (four most in school history).
In both coverage and run support, Clark moves with athletic twitch to get where he is going in a hurry. He understands route concepts and flows fast to wherever his instincts lead him. When the ball is in the air, he locates it and flashes the body control to make plays. His energy shows as a run defender, as well, although lackluster finishing strength will be more noticeable versus NFL ball carriers.
Overall, Clark is overly responsive in coverage, but he brings range and ball skills to the back end of the defense and makes more plays than he misses. He has field-safety starting potential and can hold up in nickel.
Obviously I’m all for it, but what do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments. I’ll open up today’s comments to everyone, including FREE subscribers:
Woof!
2 cents from an NBC draft analyst: "Bud Clark to Seattle might be my favorite of any pick made thus far. He’s an absolute weapon on the backend and lands within the perfect defense to allow him to do what he does best in flying around to the football.
Clark, Emmanwori and Witherspoon in that secondary are just outstanding additions of talent from John Schneider."
#3 is a hybrid Safety/LB and Bud Clark is a hybrid Free Safety/Slot Corner. A flexible defender. I’m all in.
My first thought was that Bud Clark was a Nashville session player or a product at the local dispensary. My second thought was that this pick is perfect for a Mike Macdonald defense.