The Washington Redskins announced that they have traded a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft to the Green Bay Packers for safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. With the acquisition, the Burgundy and gold have added another former Alabama player to their already-improved defense.
Putting Clinton-Dix (6-1, 208 lbs.) next to current starting safety, D.J. Swearinger, will likely bring a new level of intensity to a secondary that Swearinger has already enhanced with his fire and leadership. With the Redskins Week 9 adversary the Atlanta Falcons and their sometimes high-powered offense, the acquisition of Clinton-Dix is certainly timely.
The former Packer entered the league as the No. 21 overall pick by Green Bay in the 2014 NFL Draft. He has started every regular and postseason game for the Packers since the start of the 2015 season which brings his total games to 71 regular season contests with 65 starts.
Over his career, the 2016 Pro Bowler has logged 14 career interceptions in regular-season play to complement 373 tackles (294 solo), 25 passes defensed, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
In postseason play, he has started all seven games in which he has appeared and has registered three INTs, 30 tackles (24 solo), 11 passes defended and one tackle for loss. His three career postseason interceptions are tied for No. 1 in the NFL (with the Carolina Panthers LB Luke Kuechly and New England Patriots safety Duron Harmon) since he entered the league in 2014.
This season, the Alabama product has three interceptions, 27 tackles (24 solo), three passes defended, one sack and one forced fumble. His three interceptions on the season is tied for second-most in the league heading into next week’s games.
In addition to his 2016 Pro Bowl appearance, the Florida native earned second team All-Pro recognition from The Associated Press and All-NFC honors from the Pro Football Writers of America after leading the team with a career-high five interceptions (tied for No. 5 in the NFL and No. 2 among safeties).
At the end of the 2015 season, Clinton-Dix logged a career-high, team-leading 117 tackles (97 solo) and recorded a career-best three sacks, the most by a Green Bay safety in a season. For his rookie season in 2014, he played in all 16 games in 2014, starting the final 10 contests of the season. It was the most starts by a Packers rookie safety since 2005. Since entering the league in 2014, Clinton-Dix’s 14 interceptions are tied for the eighth most in the NFL in that time span. His 5.5 sacks during that frame are tied for the fifth most in the NFL among safeties.
At Alabama, Clinton-Dix was a consensus All-America selection. He is 25 years old.