Packers: Chris Jones Deal Provides Blueprint for Kenny Clark

On Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs worked out a new deal with Chris Jones that gives us the blueprint to what Kenny Clark’s extension with the Green Bay Packers could look like.

This upcoming 2020 season is the final year of Kenny Clark’s rookie deal, and we know from past conversations from both GM Brian Gutekunst and Clark, that getting a deal done is a priority for each. But a deal this size and with many moving parts takes time, and the COVID-19 pandemic certainly hasn’t helped matters either.

However, with each passing day, you can hear Clark’s price tag going up. Back in the Spring, the Indianapolis Colts agreed to a four-year deal worth $84 million with DeForest Buckner, and just yesterday, the Kansas City Chiefs gave Chris Jones a four-year contract totaling $85 million.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Jones’ deal comes with $37 million due at signing, $60 million guaranteed for injury, and $5 million in incentives. At Over The Cap, they’ve listed out Jones’ cap hits each year, which total $16.126 million in 2020, $21.5 million in 2021, $22.374 million in 2022, and $20 million in 2023.

This information is, of course, quite pertinent to the Green Bay Packers and Clark, who is next in line to be paid, as it gives us a blueprint to what Clark’s new deal could look like.

Since their rookie seasons back in 2016, both Clark and Jones have established themselves as two of the best interior defensive linemen in the game, although Jones has been much more effective at getting after the quarterback.

During that span, Jones has totaled 33 sacks and 224 total pressures. He’s also added 80 tackles, 37 of which were for a loss, along with 88 stops – a play that results in a loss for the offense – and seven forced fumbles.

Clark, meanwhile, hasn’t been nearly as productive in terms of pressures and sacks, but against the run, he’s been better. Over those same four seasons, Clark has 16.5 sacks, 161 total pressures, and 143 tackles, including 24 for a loss. On top of that, he has 132 stops and four forced fumbles.

Given Jones’ ability to get after the quarterback – and Buckner has posted similar numbers as well – Clark may not surpass his contract or even match it, but he is going to be in the ballpark. So take a good look at the amount Jones’ is getting at signing, how much of his deal is guaranteed, and what his cap hits are because Clark is going to be in that range.

And for the Green Bay Packers, this is the tricky part. Clark is one of five high-profile free agents – David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones, Kevin King, and Corey Linsley – that the Packers will have to address next offseason. They certainly aren’t going to be able to sign them all, but bringing Clark back – along with Bakhtiari – is a must.

Once again, the Packers aren’t projected to have a ton of spendable cap space next offseason, which means signing Clark – or any player at that price – to this kind of deal is going to limit them elsewhere. With that said, at 24-years-old and already one of the top interior defensive linemen in football, you live with that and make this deal work.

All stats via Pro Football Focus (subscription required)