Some coaches don't like to play rookies early in their careers, but instead hope that they can grow while watching from the sidelines. That isn't the way Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald does his work, though. If a player can help the team win, then they will play.
That happened with defensive back Nick Emmanwori in 2025, and the same situation might unfold with safety Bud Clark in 2026. Like Emmanwori, Clark offers positional flexibility, and he can line up at seemingly any defensive back spot. And Seattle isn't afraid to ask him to do so, based on what Macdonald told the media on Monday.
"Bud's one of those rookies that we're asking a lot of him right now," Macdonald said, "and I'm really impressed with how he's handling it. It's not perfect, but how he goes about his business is what we're looking for, and I think he needs to trust that he's going to come out of the fog."
Bud Clark set to help the Seattle Seahawks once the fog clears
If Seattle didn't think Clark could take on the workload and what was being asked of him, they wouldn't ask. Testing a player's limits often helps the player improve and do so quickly. With the unknown about Emmanwori's ankle injury, Clark might be pressed into action sooner rather than later.
Emmanwori is currently on the training camp physically unable to perform list, and though he could come off the list at any point ahead of the season and practice right away, he is also in jeopardy of missing Week 1. The team will make sure he is fully healthy before playing him.
Clark is a different player than Emmanwori, but only slightly. While the latter can be used more on blitzes, Clark might offer better pass coverage on the outside. Both are expected to be very good against the run, though Clark might be a bit better at forcing turnovers, at least based on his time in college.
Taken in the second round, the safety will be expected to play soon, even if Nick Emmanwori is completely healthy. Mike Macdonald likes a secondary with interchangeable parts, and general manager John Schneider has provided him with a roster that does just that. Even Devon Witherspoon, while more of a pure cornerback, can line up in different spots.
Bud Clark is going to further help Macdonald disguise his alignments. Maybe that happens in Week 1 or maybe by Week 5, but as good as Macdonald is at coaching defensive backs, Clark is going to be in a position to contribute faster than he would with maybe any other team. He just needs to trust himself so that the mental fog lifts. Once that happens, he will be dangerous.
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