There was talk that Green Bay Packers star defensive tackle Kenny Clark was entering his final season with the team this year. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Clark is the longest-tenured player on the team. Incredibly, he is entering his ninth season in the NFL, but is yet to turn 29 years old.
In other words, Clark has plenty left in the tank, especially after having his best year as a professional last season, setting a career-high with 7.5 sacks. The Packers wanted to make sure that 2024 would not, in fact, be his last season with the team, and inked him to a contract extension on the eve of training camp.
Green Bay Packers 3-Time Pro Bowl Defensive Tackle Kenny Clark Signed a 3-Year Contract Extension
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Earlier this evening, it was reported that Clark and the Packers had agreed to a three-year $64 million contract:
Paid again: The #Packers and Pro Bowl
NT Kenny Clark have agreed to terms on another massive contract extension to keep him in Green Bay for the foreseeable future.He gets a 3-year, $64M extension with
$29M in 2024 in a deal done by @DHendrickson41 and @CJLaBoy of @Wasserman. pic.twitter.com/k11paFvs3o— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 21, 2024
Signing Clark to a longer extension was high on the Packers’ to-do list this offseason. Now their only remaining item is to do the same to star quarterback Jordan Love.
There are rumors that Love’s next contract will make him the highest paid quarterback in the NFL. Clark’s new deal, while significant, does not make him anywhere close to the highest paid defensive tackle.
Green Bay Packers Defensive Tackle Kenny Clark Is Not One of the Top-10 Highest-Paid Players at His Position
Clark will make just over $21 million per season on his new deal. While that sounds like a lot of money (and it is), it is not even top-10 money among defensive tackles.
According to Over the Cap, Clark now ranks 12th in annual salary among defensive tackles. Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs is the highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL, making $31.8 million a season.
Clark’s new annual salary is a raise over the $17.5 million he made last season.
The three-time Pro Bowler signing his third contract with the Packers proves that they have not abandoned their belief in holding onto their stars for as long as they can. Despite the youth movement on the roster over the last few years, Clark is still viewed as an integral part of the team.
