For several days now, there has been talk regarding a possible trade with Frank Clark but no one believed it. Well, believe it, folks, because the deal is done.
The pass rusher from the Seattle Seahawks interested the Chiefs for a few weeks but the price always seemed a little bit high. Now, the trade has been confirmed today by CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora.
Clark, tagged by the Seahawks this year, will go to Kansas City, as the Seahawks will get a first-round draft pick in 2019 and a second-round pick in 2020 out of it. The teams will also swap third-round picks this year. Now that’s quite a deal!
Additionally, the Chiefs will give Clark a long-term deal for five years at $105.5 million with $63.5 million guaranteed.
Last year, the pass rusher had a terrific season, picking up 13 sacks and 27 quarterback hits and becoming one of the breakout players in Seattle defense. Right after the huge deal the Seahawks gave Russell Wilson, the rumors of a possible trade popped up immediately. Even though other teams like the Jets or the Colts were interested, it looks like the Chiefs moved quicker.
Clark will be a key player in Steve Spagnuolo’s revamped defense
Frank Clark will fit very well in the new Spagnuolo defense. However, the price is very high for the star pass rusher. It’s also fair to wonder how the Chiefs will be able to pay everybody else in the team next year. But after the departure of Justin Houston and Dee Ford nonetheless, the Chiefs needed to reinforce the pass rush department.
As Super Bowl favorites next season, the Chiefs needed to be somehow very bold and aggressive this offseason, recruiting steady players to improve their defense; that’s exactly what the front office is doing.
The Chiefs have added bigger defensive players already, as they signed Alex Okafor to a three-year deal, traded safety Eric Murray to Cleveland for defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, and signed Jeremiah Attaochu to a one-year deal.
Is it a smart move or a weird move right before the draft?
Adding the 6-foot-3, 265-pound Clark is a big move indeed, but is this deal hiding something else?
Clark deserves it as he plays with passion and is reliable. Plus, he will turn only 26 this year, so these are characteristics Brett Veach seems to appreciate quite a lot. However, Clark has had a troubled past as well. Even if the Chiefs are used to dealing with players having had issues in the past because of their tempers, the Chiefs PR department will have to play their best card, especially after what happened with Kareem Hunt last season and what is going on with Tyreek Hill right now.
However, the Michigan product is an established and experienced player at his position. Brett Veach could not overlook the fact he could recruit a player like this instead of a rookie from the draft the season they want to give the best team possible to the reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes and go all the way.
