Seattle’s latest defensive weapon brings ball-hawking instincts and elite versatility to the "Dark Side Defense," offering Mike Macdonald a seasoned playmaker ready to fuel another championship run.
FRISCO - While this year's TCU football team is presently in the spotlight due to Big 1`2 Media Days here in Frisco at The Star, last year's TCU football team boasts one standout who seems poised to step into the NFL spotlight.
TCU football just sent the Seattle Seahawks a defensive chess piece, and Bud Clark might be more than a simple rookie depth addition.
The Seahawks used the No. 64 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Clark, the former TCU safety who built his reputation on instincts, versatility and takeaway production.
And Clark's next task? Help Seattle defend its Super Bowl title.
“I feel like it was a dream come true,” Clark said. “Dreams come to reality. ... My heart dropped to my butt.”
Seattle had already addressed its offensive needs early in the draft, but adding Clark gave Mike Macdonald’s defense another movable piece for a unit that loves confusion, speed and physicality.
Said the coach: "We're not just going to use him at safety. He can play nickel. He can probably play corner for us, too. We'll figure that out throughout the process."
Clark isn’t the youngest rookie in the class at 24, but that also comes with a major bonus. He’s not some raw projection, either.
He played 61 games at TCU, started 49 of them and served as a multi-year captain for the Horned Frogs.
His production backs it up, too. Clark finished his TCU career with 214 tackles, 138 solo stops, 3.5 tackles for loss, 21 pass breakups and 15 interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.
Last season, he piled up 56 tackles, 31 solo tackles, seven pass breakups and four picks.
Clark’s value comes from how many jobs he can handle. At TCU, he lined up at safety, nickel, slot corner, boundary corner and even outside linebacker looks when the scheme demanded it.
That flexibility should fit perfectly with Seattle’s “Dark Side Defense,” where disguises and matchup answers matter as much as traditional position labels.
He probably doesn’t have to start immediately, and that may actually help. Seattle already has defensive depth, and Ty Okada is projected to take over the spot left behind by Coby Bryant’s move to the Chicago Bears.
But Clark can still get on the field quickly as a backup safety, slot option, matchup defender and special package weapon.
The comparison point is clear. Seattle used Nick Emmanwori in multiple roles before he settled into a bigger nickel role, and Clark could follow a similar path. If injuries hit, he’s experienced enough to step in without the moment swallowing him.
There are areas to clean up. Clark needs to become a more consistent tackler, sharpen his man coverage technique and keep his frame healthy through an NFL season. But the foundation is nasty.
Bud Clark left TCU as a proven playmaker. In Seattle, he might become the kind of rookie defender worthy of contributing to a Super Bowl title defense.
