Patriots draft profile: Bud Clark is a ballhawk at safety

FORT WORTH, TX - SEPTEMBER 13: TCU Horned Frogs safety Bud Clark (21) returns a fumble that gets called back during the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Abilene Christian Wildcats on September 13, 2025 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The New England Patriots defense was mightily opportunistic in the playoffs, registering eight total takeaways en route to a Super Bowl appearance. That was not always the case during the regular season, though: the team of head coach Mike Vrabel took the ball away only 19 times, ranking 19th in the league.

Adding NFL interception leader Kevin Byard to the mix should help get that number up, but the Patriots might not be done either. They also could add more playmaking potential in the draft, namely in the form of TCU safety Bud Clark.

Hard facts

Name: Bud Clark

Position: Safety

School: TCU (6-year Sr.)

Opening day age: 24 (5/3/2002)

Measurements: 6’0 7/8”, 188 lbs, 31 1/2” arm length, 9” hand size, 4.41s 40-yard dash, 38” vertical jump, 10’7” broad jump, 8.90 Relative Athletic Score

Experience

Colleges: TCU (2020-25)

Career statistics: 61 games (45 starts) | 2,732 defensive snaps, 420 special teams snaps | 214 tackles, 39 missed tackles (15.4%), 3.5 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 FR | 5 QB pressures (1.0 sack, 1 hit, 3 hurries) | 196 targets, 123 catches surrendered (62.8%), 1,554 yards, 11 TDs, 15 INTs (incl. 2 TDs), 21 PBUs | 5 special teams tackles, 2 missed special teams tackles (28.8%), 1 blocked PAT | 22 penalties (incl. 4 declined/offsetting)

Accolades: Second-team All-Big 12 (2024, 2025), Honorable mention All-Big 12 (2022)

A standout at Alexandria High School in his Louisiana hometown, Clark was rated a four-star recruit heading toward college. With that ranking came multiple high-profile offers, including from schools such as LSU, Colorado and Arizona State. He initially committed to Virginia in April 2019 but decided to flip to TCU eight months later.

Clark spent six seasons as a Horned Frog, appearing in 61 games with 45 starts. A team captain in each of his final three seasons, he was one of the team’s standout performers for multiple seasons and led it in interceptions in three separate seasons. In general, he hauled in 15 picks, all over his final four years in school; no other player in the FBS had as many INTs during that span. Clark also was voted to three All-Big 12 teams along the way.

Draft profile

Projected round: 3-4 | Consensus big board: No. 86 | Patriots meeting: N/A

Strengths: Clark is a natural athlete who provides sideline-to-sideline range in the secondary. He offers impressive straight-line speed (90th-percentile 40-yard dash) and is efficient in his movement, quickly finding his way to the ball from any position in the lineup. He is a true playmaker, with great hands, body control, anticipation and the ability to locate the ball in the air. Clark is a versatile player who has moved all over the formation, and is comfortable playing both the pass and the run. Despite a lack of bulk, he has shown a generally good tackling technique. As noted above, he was a three-time team captain at TCU.

Weaknesses: Clark needs to add to his 188-pound frame; measuring 197 at his pro day was a step in the right direction, but it remains to be seen whether or not this is sustainable or impacts his movement skills. As a tackler or blitzer, he won’t blow anyone up. He also can get caught out of place by misdirection and double moves and takes risks jumping routes. His aggressive play style has also led to some penalty issues, including four pass interference calls in 2025 alone. Durability is a concern as well, as he missed 14 total games during his career and at least one in four of his six seasons at TCU.

Patriots preview

What would be his role? Clark would join the Patriots as a third safety to complement the likes of Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson. As such, he would primarily be used as a package player in select nickel and dime groupings early on while simultaneously being groomed into a larger role from 2027 on.

Does he have positional versatility? As a do-it-all safety, Clark was used across the formation at TCU. He lined up deep in single-high coverage shells, played the field in two-high looks, moved into the slot and also saw extensive action in the box. His frame might limit his usage early on in his career, but he has the speed and instincts to make an impact regardless of where he lines up — something that is true for defense and special teams.

What is his growth potential? Clark enters the NFL with a clear path toward a starting role ahead of him. He needs to learn to tone down his big-play hunting and ideally put on a bit of mass, and find a way to stay healthy, but his potential is undeniable. That said, at age 24 and with 61 career games under his belt, the curve is flatter for him than it is for other prospects.

Why the Patriots? Safety is a need for the Patriots both in the short and the long term. Clark would help in both of those areas, while bringing some serious ballhawking skills to the table. He could serve as an upgrade over Dell Pettus as the third safety in 2026 and at a later point during his rookie career take over from Kevin Byard as the starting free safety.

Why not the Patriots? Clark’s durability is a definitive issue; it’s hard to make a positive impact when sidelined. Also, the Patriots might not feel comfortable in his playmaking being translatable to the pro level.

One-sentence verdict: Clark is one of the top playmakers the draft has to offer, and with some projections having him come off the board in Round 4 might be a severely underrated prospect.

For more information about Bud Clark and the rest of this year’s class of prospects, please take a look at Adam’s 2026 NFL Draft Guide.

Also, what do you think about Clark as a potential Patriots target? Do you like him? Where would you pick him? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.