National pundits grading drafts often grade the players chosen on their skill set and when they were chosen. They don't always grade the pick on how they fit into a specific system, which is likely why the Seattle Seahawks' choosing defensive back Bud Clark in the second round of the 2026 draft will likely turn out to be an A.
Clark fits the mold of the perfect Mike Macdonald DB. He gives the team positional flexibility, which helps the head coach disguise his alignments. He also probably offers extreme ball-hawking no matter where he lines up, but expect him to line up just about anywhere.
As Macdonald put it in his post-draft press conference, "We’re not just going to use (Clark) at safety. He can play nickel. He can probably play corner for us, too. We’ll figure that out throughout the process."
Bud Clark should turn out to be a dream player for Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald
That sounds a lot like how the team used Nick Emmanwori last season. While Emmanwori is bigger and even faster than Clark, both were primarily safeties in college, with the athleticism to do so much more in the pros. Clark didn't just get chosen by a good team; he was probably chosen by the team where he is the best fit because he can fit in numerous spots.
One can imagine a scenario where on one play Devon Witherspoon is lined up in the slot, Emmanwori is lined up at outside corner, and Clark is at safety, and then on the next play they are all still on the field but lined up in completely different spots. An offense trying to guess what will happen next will have a good chance of being wrong.
Clark did have a better 2024 than 2025, though, so he will need to prove to the Seattle Seahawks that he is the player he was two seasons ago. In 2024, he didn't allow a touchdown pass but had three interceptions, four passes broken up, and an extraordinarily low quarterback rating of 42.8.
In 2025, he allowed four touchdown passes, but still had four picks and six PBU. His quarterback rating allowed was still a solid 75.9, but he was flagged for seven penalties.
What remained the same for Bud Clark for the last two years is that he is elite against the run. He is nearly 6'1" but just 190 pounds. He will need to bulk up to hold up against the physicality of NFL offensive players. His technique and willingness to help against the run will get him on the field sooner rather than later.
When he is on the field, no one will be able to guess where he lines up on any given play. That will be left to the genius of Mike Macdonald. That should be a fun watch for Seahawks fans.
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