Just a handful of weeks into his one-year deal, Frank Clark is going to be released by the Denver Broncos following the team's inability to find a willing trade partner. The veteran pass-rusher would likely only have gotten a conditional seventh-rounder or a late-round pick swap, so no one's too surprised Clark didn't get moved. At least he didn't go to the 49ers.
After Randy Gregory, Clark is the Broncos' second veteran defender to potentially find a new home in the 2023 season. The 30-year-old played just two games (36 snaps) this year; he has 58.5 sacks in his entire nine-year career. Some may call him washed-up, others may see an opportunity to add depth to underperforming defenses.
The floodgates may open after Clark's exit, leading to a massive diaspora of Broncos talent who are sick of losing to the Chiefs and sick of losing in general.
On Friday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Chiefs are in line to sign Clark when he hits free agency. For the same reasons as Gregory going to the 49ers, the rest of the league should be concerned.
Here are three teams who could swoop in for Clark and steal him from his former team.
3. Las Vegas Raiders need a Frank Clark to give pass rush some life
Why not start with a classic AFC West rival? The Broncos are not dumb enough to trade Clark to a divisional opponent. Give Sean Payton and Co. credit for that.
However, when Clark hits the open market in the coming days, the Raiders have every reason to snatch him up.
For one, they don't want the Chiefs to keep getting better. For another, the 2-3 Raiders currently sit third in the division and will be jostling with the ever-unlucky Chargers for playoff footing. Bringing on a veteran like Clark could help stabilize things in the locker room and also add a rotational piece to operate alongside star Maxx Crosby in the defense.
Seeing Clark in a Chiefs, Broncos, and Raiders jersey feels criminal. Yet Las Vegas wouldn't just be doing this to stick it in Andy Reid's face -- they really, truly need the pass-rushing help. Other than Crosby, no Raiders defender has tallied more than one sack in 2023. Clark could thrive in Vegas' 4-3 defensive alignment and maybe even take down his first victim next week when the Raiders play the bumbling Mac Jones and the Patriots.
2. Buffalo Bills defense could use a shot in the arm from Frank Clark
Out of all the teams on this list, the Bills admittedly have the least amount of cap space. The only way Buffalo is luring Clark over is if they whisper things like, "We're going to the Super Bowl. And you can help us."
Only five weeks into the season, injuries are piling up for the Bills defense from Matt Milano to Tre'Davious White to Von Miller. Miller is coming off an ACL injury he suffered late last season and made his 2023 debut in Week 5 in a loss to the Jaguars.
Should Miller suffer any injury-related setbacks, though, the Bills may want a fallback option. That's where Frank Clark comes in.
Now, the two pass-rushers are not in the same tier. Miller recorded an eight-sack campaign in 2022 and led the team in pass rush win rate and pressure percentage -- and he only played in 11 regular season games. Clark's three Pro Bowls do not compare to Miller's decorated lineage of defensive achievements; that being said, it wouldn't hurt the Bills to add some pass-rushing insurance.
Plus, Clark can proudly boast his 13.5 sacks in the NFL postseason, good for third-most in the league's history. A guy who can deliver in the playoffs? Seems exactly like what the Bills need in 2023.
1. Los Angeles Rams could use a veteran like Frank Clark up front
Wait, the Rams are good again? Yes, yes they are.
After a historically depressing post-Super Bowl hangover, the Los Angeles Rams are again defying expectations thanks to an offensive resurgence from Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua. And the brilliant Sean McVay, of course.
This season, they lost to the Bengals and 49ers by one score and recently held their own against a Super Bowl favorite, the Eagles. As long as Stafford stays healthy and as long as Kupp is open (he always is), the Rams have a real shot at playing playoff football.
Following the past exits of Von Miller and Leonard Floyd, the Rams' pass-rush consists of two words: Aaron Donald. Throwing an extra veteran stalwart like Frank Clark into the front seven could boost morale and help get the Rams more pressures and sacks on the board.
L.A. currently ranks at the bottom of the league in sack rate and other defensive categories. Clark could serve as an effective rotational or situational pass-rusher in the Rams' lineup and also send a snarky message to his other former team, the Seattle Seahawks.
Entering the twilight years of his career, maybe Clark doesn't want to play it safe and join the Chiefs. Maybe he wants to keep fans on their toes and go head-to-head against the team that drafted him back in 2015. In the words of the viral TikTok trend, never let them know your next move.
