Willie Clay ranks in the all-time elite tier for defensive backs — a career that places Clay in the top 10% of all players at the position. The Knox value model assigns Clay a career score of 74, reflecting sustained impact that most players at the position never approach.
Willie Clay
Top 6% all-time defensive backsIron Man
A high-end defensive back defined as much by exceptional availability — almost never missed time as by their on-field impact (top 10% all-time). Coaches and teammates could count on them being available.
Career Value · VORP
VORP 139 · #710 · High-ValueWorth 139 points of value above a freely-available replacement safety — top 16% of all 4,649 ranked at the position. 6 of 6 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +23.2 on average.See board →
Seasons above replacement
6 cleared
Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit
48
Replacement
the KC-H bar
→
Career Value · VORP
139 career value over replacement — #710 all-time of 4,649. 23.2/season above a replacement-level S.
Draft OutcomeSteal ↑
Pick #221 (Rd 8) · DET · 1992 · +55.2 vs expected KV-H
74actual
18.8 expected · Δ+55.2
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