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Packers sign first-round pick Kenny Clark, completing draft class

Green Bay now has its entire 2016 draft class under contract.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY Sports

With the Green Bay Packers' offseason program nearing conclusion, the team signed 2016 first-round pick Kenny Clark. Clark's signature secures the final piece of the Packers' 2016 draft class.

Though the team did not disclose any details regarding Clark's contract, the deal presumably spans four seasons with a fifth-year team option. The player selected in Clark's slot a year earlier, defensive back Byron Jones, netting approximately $8.6 million in total value with his contract.

Green Bay selected Clark No. 27 overall in no small part due to the retirement of veteran nose tackle B.J. Raji. Though the 6-foot-3, 314-pound Clark may not step into Raji's role immediately, the team expects him to play a significant role in the defense early in his rookie season. The Packers already must take the field without Mike Pennel for the first quarter of the 2016 season, leaving Mike Daniels, Letroy Guion and Datone Jones as the only experienced defensive linemen on the roster.

Though NFL rules prevented Clark from participating in the Packers' OTA practices earlier in the offseason, the rookie did take part in the team's three-day mandatory minicamp this week.

Jason B. Hirschhorn is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and covers the NFL for Sports on Earth and SB Nation. He also serves as the senior writer and editor for Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog.