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Why Bud Clark has the athletic ceiling to replace Coby Bryant
TL;DR
Bud Clark, the Seattle Seahawks' new second-round pick, has an athletic ceiling that may surpass Coby Bryant's. Clark excels in speed and explosiveness, raising expectations for his potential as a starting safety.
Key points
- Bud Clark is a second-round pick for the Seattle Seahawks.
- Clark has superior speed and explosiveness compared to Coby Bryant.
- Coby Bryant recently left for the Chicago Bears in free agency.
Seattle SeahawksChicago BearsCoby BryantBud Clark
Seattle Seahawks new second-round pick Bud Clark’s athletic ceiling could be even higher than Coby Bryant, the starting safety for their 2025 Super Bowl champion defense who recently departed for the Chicago Bears in free agency.
Both are within ½ an inch of height, with Bryant having the edge there and on hand size but Clark having the edge in arm length and weight. The speed and explosiveness is where Clark shines, with an 81st-89th percentile 10-yard split, vertical and broad jumps, and a 96th percentile 40-yard dash. The big question for Bryant was the agility, which Clark didn’t test for, suggesting he may have a similar problem. However, if Bryant still found a way to cope with 20th and 49th percentile 3-cone and shuttle drills to be a starting safety by using his instincts and IQ, the Seahawks have reason to believe Clark can do the same.
Here’s a video of Clark flipping his hips last week:
This is the one trait that prevents Coby Bryant from being even better and more versatile. He’s great parked on the hash as a deep safety and coming downhill in the run, but his lack of hip mobility to turn and run with receivers is a mismatch that teams exposed early on last season (look back at the Week 3 Thursday Night Football tape in Arizona).
Compare that with Clark here and it seems there’s at least a chance he can surpass Bryant’s level with just a bit more fluidity in the most rigid spot of his game.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Where Seahawks' Bud Clark's hip mobility helps replace Coby Bryant
Q&A
What athletic advantages does Bud Clark have over Coby Bryant?
Bud Clark has better arm length, weight, and superior speed and explosiveness metrics compared to Coby Bryant.
Why did the Seattle Seahawks draft Bud Clark?
The Seahawks believe Bud Clark's athletic potential can fill the gap left by Coby Bryant, who departed for the Chicago Bears.
How does Bud Clark's performance compare to Coby Bryant's?
While both players are similar in height, Clark's speed and explosiveness metrics are significantly higher, indicating a potentially greater impact on the field.