TCU's Bud Clark's elite ball-hawking skills just made him a defensive chess piece in the NFL Draft.
Safety is one of the positions on the football field that can sometimes get overlooked by fans. ... and even by some NFL teams who view it as a "lesser'' spot.
But the right guy can make a big difference.
TCU's Bud Clark did that in Fort Worth. And now - as he entered this process as one of the better prospects at the position in this 2026 NFL Draft - he'll get a chance to do it in the pros.
Clark has been drafted by the Super Bowl champion Seahawks at Pick No. 64
Coming in to the NFL Draft, there were a number of reviews and predictions regarding where Clark projected as a fit.
Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski said Clark "can be molded into a chess piece capable of making quarterbacks pay for their mistakes."
And B/R's Gavin Davenport pitched in by calling Clark a "dream draft target'' of the Dallas Cowboys.
Davenport wrote, “Safety Bud Clark played a lot of football at TCU and was quite the ballhawk, logging 15 career interceptions. ... (A team getting Clark) ... would be a gift.”
Clark leaves TCU as one of the most productive defensive backs in recent program history. Over the course of his career, he racked up 15 interceptions and more than 20 pass breakups, consistently showing a knack for being around the football.
In 2025, Clark finished with 56 total tackles and seven passes defended. He was also able to show his knack for the ball by snagging four interceptions, one of which he was able to take all the way back to the house.
Of course, like many “underrated” prospects, Clark was never viewed as a surefire early-round pick. But that may ultimately work in his favor. Landing with the right team and system can make all the difference.
For TCU fans, it’s another example of the program continuing to produce NFL-ready talent in the secondary. And for Clark, this new destination could be the ideal place for his playmaking ability to shine at the next level.