Clark knows how rare path to contract extension can be

Chuck Clark was the Ravens’ last pick of the 2017 NFL draft, taken No. 186 overall, just after a defensive tackle who’s started once in his career and just before a fellow safety who spent all of last season on injured reserve.

Of course, over his first two seasons in Baltimore, Clark played like a sixth-round pick. Or at least he played as much as a sixth-round pick typically does. Starting safeties Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson almost never missed a defensive snap. Clark had to work on special teams and wait for something bigger.

The opportunity that could make or break a career arrived in October. Clark was finally needed. And when he found a place on defense, he found a future with the Ravens.

On Monday, he signed a contract extension through 2023 reportedly worth $19 million.

“A lot of sixth-round picks, late-round guys, don’t get to make it this far and get extended early in their career,” he said Tuesday, his first comments since re

prove his worth. It’d taken much longer to ing knee injury in Week 5 against the championships, and I think we’ve got the escape roster anonymity. Pittsburgh Steelers, Clark stepped in. He’d right pieces to go and do that,” he said.

The former Virginia Tech standout learned from Eric Weddle and Jefferson The Ravens’ hope is that life-changing averaged less than four defensive snaps per and former special teams coordinator Jerry money won’t change Clark’s approach. He game his rookie year, and he started twice in Rosburg, and those lessons prepared him said Tuesday that he wants to prove that “I signing. “It’s just a blessing, and I’m 2018, but only as an injury replacement for for an in-season crash course. Over 11 can be a top safety in this league.” He knows thankful for it.” Jefferson. straight starts, Clark blitzed heavily, covthat being a leader means being more vocal, too.ContractnegotiationswiththeRavens“You’vejustgottobeabletomanageyoureredwellandalmostnevermissedadestarted late in the regular season, he said, emotions in this game,” he said. “It’s a lot of fensive snap. But his celebration Monday was unsurafter he’d established himself as a reliable ups and downs, especially like a guy that By the end of the season, the Ravens had prisingly muted. Soon after signing his box safety. Clark was set to become a free was in my position, who’s second-string, transformed into one of the NFL’s top contract extension, he looked after his agent after next season, and Ravens general third-string, a special teams player. In the defenses, and Clark was their leading infant daughter, Charleé, for a couple of manager Eric DeCosta has been aggressive back of your mind, you know what you can tackler. He’ll return as a soft-spoken but hours. Later, he went to a Mexican in securing extensions with homegrown do. You know what you’re able to do in this widely respected presence, the pre-snap restaurant with his wife, Aysha. “Nothing talent before they hit free agency. league, and you just have to, at the end of the liaison between the coaches and the too crazy,” he said.

The timing and the fit were right, Clark day, be able to manage your emotions. … Not defense, the unheralded starter for one of On Tuesday, his mother called and asked said, so “we finally came to something.” everything’s going to be smooth sailing.” the league’s top defensive backfields. that they pray together. The past year had

It took just a couple of months for him to When Jefferson suffered a season-end- “As a ballplayer, you want to win been a blessing.