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The Detroit Lions added Will Clarke to the crowd at defensive end on Sunday. Detroit signed the free agent and waived offensive guard Caleb Benenoch to make room.
What are the Lions getting in Clarke?
The 6-6, 285-pound end was a third-round draft choice by the Cincinnati Bengals back in the 2014 NFL Draft. Coming out of West Virginia, his size, power and upside elevated modest college production (9.5 sacks, 28.5 tackles for loss in three seasons) into a top-100 selection.
Clarke is a near clone physically of former Lions DE Devin Taylor, who had just completed his rookie season at the time. Tall, long-limbed and powerful through the shoulders, Clarke won with power and leverage in college.
He never emerged as the Bengals hoped. Playing in 35 games (no starts) in three seasons, Clarke managed just 4.5 sacks and 22 total tackles before the Bengals gave up on him. He played the next two years in Tampa Bay and continued to be little more than a placeholder along the Bucs line, registering 2.5 sacks and 15 tackles in limited playing time. He was out of football in 2019 before signing with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the now-defunct XFL.
His size and power to hold the end of the DL are still there, and his length and strength are qualities the Lions do like. Alas, Clarke has an almost complete lack of fast-twitch muscle; his length is often a detriment because it takes him too long to get it all moving and under control. He is not at all a candidate to play standing up on the edge or dropping into coverage.
Clarke is a longshot to stick with the Lions once the 2020 regular season begins. He ostensibly fills the role of injured rookie Jashon Cornell.
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