Denver Broncos releasing Frank Clark; possible destinations for veteran pass rusher
The Denver Broncos are releasing veteran pass rusher Frank Clark. According to multiple reports, he gave back nearly $1.7 million of his salary to make him a more attractive trade candidate, but the Broncos were unable to find a trade partner.
Clark signed a one-year deal with the Broncos in June. He played in just two games before both parties decided to move on.
The Broncos have parted ways with two pass rushers in recent days. Denver traded edge rusher Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers last week after just four games.
The 1-5 Broncos are rumored to be sellers as the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline approaches.
Clark, 30, is in his ninth NFL season. He previously played for the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs before signing with the Broncos this past offseason. He made three consecutive Pro Bowls as a member of the Chiefs (2019-21) and won two Super Bowl titles with the franchise.
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The veteran edge rusher has 265 tackles, 58.5 sacks and 67 tackles for loss in 122 career regular-season games. Clark’s 13.5 sacks in the postseason are the third most in NFL history.
Possible destinations for Frank Clark?
Kansas City Chiefs
Clark knows Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system from his time spent in Kansas City. Plus, Clark’s best years came in Kansas City. He was a key player during the Chiefs’ two Super Bowl titles.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders need help at defensive end opposite Maxx Crosby. Crosby leads the Raiders with five sacks entering Week 6. No other Raiders player has more than one sack. The Raiders also play in a 4-3 defense, a defensive alignment that suits Clark better.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams haven’t been able to fill the void left by Von Miller and Leonard Floyd, both of whom are in Buffalo. The Rams don’t have a reliable pass rusher outside of defensive tackle Aaron Donald. A veteran presence along their defensive front seven could help.
New York Giants
The Giants have a lot of holes, which has led to their 1-4 start. They particularly struggle with getting after the quarterback. New York’s five sacks ranks tied with the Atlanta Falcons for last in the NFL.
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