BRADY HENDERSON

Most Intriguing Seahawks: No. 4, DE Frank Clark

Jul 29, 2016, 5:35 PM | Updated: 5:41 pm

Frank Clark, Michael Bennett, Seahawks...

With Michael Bennett likely to return soon to the Seahawks defensive line, will Frank Clark's snaps shrink? (AP)

(AP)

LISTEN: Most Intriguing Seahawks: No. 4, DE Frank Clark

Each day until the start of training camp, “Brock and Salk” is talking with an NFL analyst and counting down the 25 most intriguing players on the Seahawks’ roster. “Two-a-days” continued with Joe Buck of FOX Sports as the guest and Frank Clark as the fourth-most intriguing Seahawk. The segment on Clark is embedded above. My thoughts are below.

Position: DE
Height/Weight: 6-3, 260
Experience: Second season
Acquired: Second-round pick, 2015

Overview: The Seahawks said they believed in Clark’s innocence when they drafted him with their first pick last year, five months after he was involved in an altercation with his girlfriend and arrested on domestic-violence and assault charges, which were later reduced. Seattle also believed in Clark’s pass-rush ability. He showed it during the preseason when he was unquestionably Seattle’s most outstanding defensive player. Clark didn’t have nearly as much of an impact in the regular season, recording three sacks in 15 games while playing less often and against stiffer competition than the backups he was feasting on in August. Clark is in line for a bigger role this season, as he is expected to take some of the pass-rushing opportunities that opened up with Bruce Irvin’s free-agent departure.

The intrigue: You can’t always take everything Michael Bennett says completely seriously, but he didn’t seem to be joking earlier this offseason when he said that with the exploding market for defensive linemen in the NFL, he thinks Clark will one day get a $100 million contract. “When he puts it together, I think he’ll be the best pass rusher to come to the Seahawks and I think he’ll be one of the best defensive players in the NFL,” Bennett said. “I think he’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever seen. He has the right mindset. He’s very motivated. He just has to put it all together and when he does, I think he’ll be an animal. He’s already really good. He just has to keep figuring it out and keep developing and taking that next step.”

2016 outlook: Clark said he dropped 15-20 pounds over the offseason, getting back to the weight at which he played in college after feeling heavy and sluggish at times as a rookie. There was some thought that he was slimming down in order to play strong-side linebacker, but he’s made it clear that he will remain at end, where he hopes his leaner frame will make him quicker off the snap and around the edge. Expect him to be Seattle’s first option at right end in pass-rushing situations, and expect him to play more than the 22 snaps he averaged in his 15 games last season. Bennett, during an interview with 710 ESPN Seattle, predicted seven sacks for Clark this season. That’s a lofty goal, but it’s not out of the question.

Most Intriguing Seahawks: 25, DL Quinton Jefferson; 24, WR Kasen Williams; 23, WR Paul Richardson; 22, G Mark Glowinski; 21, TE Nick Vannett; 20, CB Jeremy Lane; 19, DT Jordan Hill; 18, RB Alex Collins; 17, S Tyvis Powell; 16, G Germain Ifedi; 15, QB Russell Wilson; 14, FS Earl Thomas; 13, CB Tharold Simon; 12, WR Doug Baldwin; 11, WR Tyler Lockett; 10, LT Garry Gilliam; 9, DL Michael Bennett; 8, DB Brandon Browner; 7, OL Justin Britt; 6, RB C.J. Prosise; 5, DT Jarran Reed.

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