Tag: Kei’Trel Clark

Christian McCaffrey hurdles Cardinals rookie Kei’Trel Clark on touchdown run

Christian McCaffrey continues to do it all for the 49ers

Arizona Cardinals rookie DB Kei’Trel Clark learned a rough lesson on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers:

Christian McCaffrey can make you look foolish.

The great 49ers back took a backward pass from Brock Purdy and ran 18 yards for his second touchdown of the game.

En route to paydirt, Clark decided to take on McCaffrey, who simply hurdled the rookie and sauntered into the end zone.

LeBron James was wowed.

Giants vs. Cardinals: 5 things to know about Week 2

The New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals square off on Sunday afternoon in Week 2, so here are five things fans should know.

The New York Giants (0-1) head out to the desert to face the Arizona Cardinals (0-1) this Sunday afternoon at State Farm Stadium.

Here are five things to know before the Week 2 game.

Cardinals’ Week 1 depth chart shows 3 rookie starters

In what is no surprise, Paris Johnson, Michael Wilson and Kei’Trel Clark, all drafted this year, are listed as starters for the Cardinals.

The Arizona Cardinals released their first depth chart of the season and it largely had no surprises. One thing worth noting is that there are three rookies listed as starters, although none is surprising based on the offseason.

Tackle Paris Johnson is the Cardinals’ starting right tackle. He worked with the first-team offense all offseason. This was inevitable. He was drafted sixth overall for a reason.

Receiver Michael Wilson, drafted in the third round, was impressive all offseason. He is listed as one of the Cardinals’ three starting receivers with Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore.

Lastly, cornerback Kei’Trel Clark, selected in the sixth round, is one of the Cardinals’ two starting cornerbacks.

Based on his work in training camp and the preseason, this is also no surprise.

All three rookies were among the players who sat out the preseason finale, which signaled a likely spot in the starting lineup.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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3 Cardinals rookies appear to have starting jobs locked up

Paris Johnson, Michael WIlson, Kei’Trel Clark all sat out the preseason finale against the Vikings.

The Arizona Cardinals did not play their starters in their preseason finale on Saturday against the Minnesota Vikings. Three rookies were among those not dressing for the game.

What does that mean? It would appear that these three Cardinals draft picks have secured a spot in the starting lineup or at least a solid spot in the playing rotation.

AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban noted that tackle Paris Johnson, the Cardinals’ first-round pick, receiver Michael Wilson, selected in the third round, and cornerback Kei’Trel Clark, a fifth-round selection, were all in street clothes before the game.

Johnson will be the Cardinals’ starting right tackle. He has worked there all offseason.

Wilson appears to have locked up a starting spot at receiver. He started with Marquise Brown in the Cardinals’ preseason game last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. He will at least be among the Cardinals’ top four receivers in the offensive rotation.

Clark started at cornerback last week against the Chiefs opposite Marco Wilson. He likely has locked up at least a spot in the top three cornerback rotation.

The youth movement for the Cardinals has officially begun. After years of rookies being brought along slowly, often out of necessity, they are going all in, trying to compete with rookies in the lineup.

At least one other rookie, linebacker BJ Ojulari, their second-round pick, also figures to play a role in the defensive rotation. He is expected to play in the preseason finale.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Contract details for 6th-round pick CB Kei’Trel Clark

Clark’s four-year rookie deal is worth a total of $4.05 million.

Cornerback Kei’Trel Clark, selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round this year’s NFL draft, was not one of the first of the picks to sign his rookie contract. However, he did do it this week, signing his four-year rookie deal on Monday, two days after he became the first in his family to graduate from a university.

The details of Clark’s deal are now available from Over the Cap.

His four-year deal is worth a total of $4.05 million and he receives a signing bonus of $208,600.

He will be paid the league minimum salary each of the four years.

  • 2023: $750,000
  • 2024: $915,000
  • 2025: $1.03 million
  • 2026: $1.15 million

By hitting certain playing time markers, either in one season or a combination of his first three. Doing so will escalate his fourth-year salary match a low restricted free agent tender.

Salary cap implications

Clark’s cap hit each year simply will be his salary each year plus the prorated amount of his signing bonus, divided equally over the four years.

  • 2023: $802,000
  • 2024: $967,000
  • 2025: $1.08 million
  • 2026: $1.20 million

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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WR Michael Wilson, CB Kei’Trel Clark already have uniform changes

The jersey changes by Wilson and Clark signal the Cardinals have moved on from punter Andy Lee.

The Arizona Cardinals, not long after the NFL draft, announced the uniforms that their nine player selections would wear. Among those numbers, receiver Michael Wilson, drafted in the third round, received No. 13 and cornerback Kei’Trel Clark, drafted in the sixth round, received No. 26.

Both have changed.

With the signing of punter Matt Haack, the Cardinals have apparently moved on from Andy Lee, who was their punter for the last seven seasons. He wore No. 14 for the last two years.

The team roster now shows Wilson having No. 14. He wore No. 4 while playing at Stanford collegiately.

Clark now has the No. 13 that Wilson vacated instead of No. 26. Clark wore No. 13 for Louisville, where he played in college.

If there was any doubt as to whether Lee would return, now we know it is highly unlikely.

The Cardinals have a new punter, Clark gets his old college number and Wilson has a number more like the one he wore in college.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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2 draft picks remain unsigned after CB Kei’Trel inks deal with Cardinals

Clark graduated from college on Saturday and signed his first NFL contract on Monday.

The Arizona Cardinals signed another of their nine draft picks. On Monday, the team announced cornerback Kei’Trel Clark signed his four-year rookie deal at the team’s training facility in Tempe.

Clark was the first of two sixth-round selections the Cardinals had in the 2023 NFL draft, selected 180th overall.

With his signing, the only two draft picks who have yet to sign their deals — second-round linebacker B.J. Ojulari and third-round cornerback Garrett Williams.

Clark’s signing caps an important few days in his life.

He was excused from the first two days of rookie minicamp to attend his college graduation at Louisville. He is the first in his family to graduate from college. That happened on Saturday. Two days, he signs his first NFL contract, a dream come true for pretty much every player who does so.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Rookie CB Kei’Trel Clark excused from rookie minicamp for graduation

Clark attended his college graduation over the weekend and returned for rookie minicamp on Sunday.

The Arizona Cardinals held rookie minicamp over the weekend but did not have all of their draft picks. Cornerback Kei’Trel Clark, drafted in the sixth round, was not in attendance.

However, it was for a good reason and he was excused.

He was attending his college graduation.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters on Friday that Clark, when he was on his top-30 visit, said he was scheduled to graduate the same weekend as the Cardinals’ rookie camp. Clark expected the Cardinals to draft him. Gannon said it would be fine.

When he was drafted, he reminded Gannon of what he told him, although Clark was trying to figure out a way to attend a day of camp and then fly out to Louisville for his graduation.

Gannon insisted he not worry about camp.

“I told him that’s important,” he said. “We want all our guys to graduate.”

Clark attended his graduation on Saturday.

He will make it to Tempe for the final day of rookie camp on Sunday and then join the rookies with the veterans the following week.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Cardinals’ grade for CB Kei’Trel Clark in Round 6: B

The Cardinals’ sixth-round selection of Louisville cornerback Kei’Trel Clark was a solid one.

The Arizona Cardinals used the first of two sixth-round selections on Louisville cornerback Kei’Trel Clark. He was not a surprise selection, as he was one of their top-30 visits and fills a position of need on the team.

What initial grade do the Cardinals get for drafting Clark?

Cardinals’ draft grade: B

In the sixth round, it is hard to make a bad pick when a player has experience and is a plus athlete.

Clark is 5-foot-10 and 181 pounds. He is speedy, clocking in at 4.42 seconds in the 40 at the combine.

His jumps were about average to below average, but the straight-line speed is more than adequate.

He was a three-year starter.

With his athleticism, he should at least be able to contribute on special teams as a rookie.

He is not afraid of contact.

There is the potential for being a starter at a position of need.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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POLL: Grade Cardinals’ selection of CB Kei’Trel Clark in Round 6

Vote in the poll to give your grade for the Arizona Cardinals with their sixth-round selection, CB Kei’Trel Clark.

With the first of two sixth-round picks the Arizona Cardinals entered Day 3 of the NFL draft with, they selected Louisville cornerback Kei’Trel Clark. He was the 180th pick in the draft.

Clark was a three-year starter at Louisville.

He tore his ACL in 2021 and came back from it to play last season.

He is slightly smaller than is ideal at 5-foot-10 but can play inside or the boundary.

He was one of the Cardinals’ top-30 prospect visits.

What do you think of the selection? What grade do the Cardinals deserve here?

Vote in the poll and give your thoughts in the comments.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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