With inside linebackers Ryan Shazier and C.J. Mosely off the board, the Green Bay Packers went with safety Ha’Sean “Ha Ha”
Ha Ha Clinton Dix – Photo/Eileen Blass-USA Today Sports
Clinton-Dix with the 21st pick in the opening round.
Clinton-Dix started 20 of 38 games for the Alabama Crimson Tide, intercepting seven passes that he returned for a total of 115 yards. He also recorded 100 tackles (58 solo) with four stops behind the line of scrimmage and forced one fumble.
Last season, he recorded a career-high 52 tackles (30 solos) that included 3.5 stops for losses of 7 yards. He deflected four passes and intercepted two others. He closed out his career with six tackles, including four solo stops that featured a pair of hits behind the line of scrimmage vs. Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.
As good as Clinton-Dix is in pass coverage, he is equally effective in run support.
After GM Ted Thompson failed to upgrade the safety position over the past couple of seasons, it appears he has finally done so with this pick in the opening round.
Thompson said Clinton-Dix was the best player left on their board and it’s a pick that fits very well into their needs.
The Packers didn’t get a single interception from the safety position last season. The addition of Clinton-Dix alongside Morgan Burnett will hopefully mean better days ahead for the Packers defense.
It’s the second straight season that the Packers have taken a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide early on. Eddie Lacy went to Packers in the second round last season.