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.
Season totals or exact team stints. Career totals count each season once.
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Defense | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty | |||||
| 1992 | 21–22 | DET | 6 | — | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1993 | 22–23 | DET | 16 | — | 32 | 31 | — | — | — | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 1994 | 23–24 | DET | 16 | — | 72 | 55 | — | — | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 10 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 1995 | 24–25 | DET | 16 | — | 67 | 50 | — | — | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8 | 12 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1996 | 25–26 | NE | 16 | — | 91 | 72 | — | — | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 12 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 1997 | 26–27 | NE | 16 | — | 94 | 67 | — | — | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6 | 11 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 1998 | 27–28 | NE | 16 | — | 99 | 66 | — | — | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1999 | 28–29 | NO | 15 | — | 35 | 24 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career | — | 117 | — | 496 | 370 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 27 | 63 | 6 | — | 0 | 0 | |
Career Value · VORP
137 career value over replacement — #757 all-time of 4,695. 22.8/season above a replacement-level S.
Pick #221 (Rd 8) · DET · 1992 · +55.2 vs expected KV-H
Fan Rating
Rate Willie Clay — All-Time
Explore More
Similar Players
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.
Worth 137 points of value above a freely-available replacement safety — top 17% of all 4,695 ranked at the position. 6 of 6 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +22.8 on average.See board →
Seasons above replacement
6 seasons × ~22.8 surplus ≈ VORP 137
Mike Doss
DB
87% match