Paul Bretl | 8/31/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — For the first time in nearly a decade, the Packers won’t have Kenny Clark’s presence in the middle of the defensive front.
Along with trading two first-round draft picks to acquire Micah Parsons, Green Bay also parted with Clark.
However, when it comes to the interior defensive tackle position, both Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur are confident in the group of players who remain on the roster.
“I feel really good about the group,” Gutekunst said. “We obviously have a couple of unproven rookie player that haven’t gone out there and done it but they’ve done a nice job in camp so far and we’re excited about it. But I felt all along last year with TJ and Kenny here that Karl and Wooden and D-Wy, I just felt that they probably needed more reps and deserved more reps.”
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Now leading the way at defensive tackle will be Devonte Wyatt. We’ve seen flashes from the now fourth-year defensive tackle throughout his career. During two separate stretches last season, from Weeks 1-3 and then again in Weeks 15-18, Wyatt ranked in the top 10 among all defensive tackles in quarterback pressures in those respective spans.
Colby Wooden has put on more good weight this offseason and is up to the 300-pound mark. He will now provide the Packers with a run-first presence, which will include playing some nose tackle. It’s a role he’s acclimated himself to well this summer.
Karl Brooks, meanwhile, will continue to see more pass-rushing opportunities. Out of 120 eligible tackles in 2024, Brooks ranked 34th in PFF’s pass rush productivity metric.
Then there are the two rookies, Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse. Brinson will be more of a pass rusher, while Stackhouse provides the defensive front with a different skill set, with his combination of size and run-stuffing abilities.
“We feel pretty confident with the depth that we have there,” LaFleur said of the defensive tackles. “I think that growth that we’ve seen from guys like Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, then we got the two rooks inside there. Obviously Devonte Wyatt. We feel confident with that group.”
With that said, while there is confidence in this group, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t unknowns either.
For Wyatt, as the new lead option here, there is a level of consistency that still needs to be unlocked. Without Clark, his ability to help out against the run is now going to be even more vital.
Brooks hasn’t played more than 40% of the defensive snaps in a single season over his career, while Wooden is yet to surpass the 25% mark. And rounding out the defensive tackle depth chart are two rookies–a late Day 3 pick and UDFA.
However, the new-look defensive tackle group won’t have to solely shoulder the burden of replacing Clark’s on-field presence. The defensive end position, including Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, and Parsons, has the versatility to move inside during certain situations.
Jeff Hafley’s defensive scheme has showcased in just one season the ability to throw a variety of different looks at opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks to help create some favorable matchups for the defensive front.
Then, of course, there is the Micah Parsons effect. His presence and the attention he draws will create a lot of one-on-one opportunities for those in the middle–and really everyone around him.
“Very confident,” LaFleur said of the defensive tackle position. “I feel like just in our conversations that’s one thing Gutey and I talked about is we had six guys on the inside on our roster and I also think there’s situationally other guys you can kick inside as well. I think it just–you can never have enough edge rushers in this league. That’s a premium position.”
On the field or off, you don’t just replace a player like Kenny Clark. A group effort will be required to do so, but between the defensive tackle depth, the upgraded defensive end position, and Hafley’s defense, the Packers believe they are positioned well to navigate Clark’s absence.
“I felt we were deep and, obviously, we’ve lost a couple guys now going into the season (Clark and TJ Slaton) but I’m excited with those guys that have been here will and I’m interested to see also what Stackhouse and Brinson will bring to the table, as well,” added Gutekunst.