Green Bay Packers 2017 roster preview: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

What can the Green Bay Packers expect from Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in 2017?

Drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Clinton-Dix has become exactly the player the Packers hoped he would. Not only did he help fix one of the team’s most pressing needs, he’s yet to miss a game, an ever-present in Green Bay’s secondary.

After three impressive seasons, the Packers picked up Clinton-Dix’s fifth-year option to keep him under contract through 2018.

What can we expect from the safety entering his fourth season?

2016 stats

Suiting up in all 16 games, Clinton-Dix made 80 tackles, 0.5 sacks and forced a fumble. He also made an impressive five interceptions.

2016 review

All in all it was another strong season for Clinton-Dix, who continues to develop into one of the best young safeties in the league. He made the Pro Bowl for the first time, while also earning second-team All-Pro honors. Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reviewed his season in January.

"“Brings somewhat of a glowering presence to the secondary. Has made tremendous strides as a tackler. Missed a team-high 16 tackles as a rookie before cutting back to nine last year and just three this year. For the sake of comparison, Burnett missed eight. Clinton-Dix also led the team in takeaway plays with six. He intercepted five passes, not dropping any. However, he continues to make too many miscues in coverage.”"

Odds of making roster: 100 percent

Cleaning up those coverage issues will be a priority this summer, but there’s no doubt Clinton-Dix will make the roster. If he can keep up his impressive run of staying healthy, he could end up as the snap-count leader on defense once again.

2017 preview

This is a big year for Clinton-Dix. He’s impressed so far, but this is the fourth season on his contract. This is the year he may emerge as one of the best safeties in the league, and doing so would almost certainly land him a new long-term deal ahead of the 2018 season.

The Packers bought themselves some time to negotiate a new deal by picking up his fifth-year option, but a strong 2017 campaign will force Ted Thompson to pay up next summer.

Clinton-Dix will also play an important leadership role. He’s now an experience member of Dom Capers’ defense, and he’ll be able to help young members of the secondary like Josh Jones and Kevin King.

The 2014 first-round pick has been one of the best defensive players on the Packers’ roster since arriving in the league, and he’s set for another strong year.

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Check out our full interview with Vince Biegel here. Lombardi Ave’s Dan Dahlke spoke to him ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he’s now a member of the Green Bay Packers.

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