NFL free agency is set to add another high-end talent, as the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to release defensive end Frank Clark in the coming days after being unable to reach common ground on a restructuring deal.
The Chiefs and Clark’s agent Eric Burkhardt were trying to work out a new deal, per ESPN, but ultimately they couldn’t meet in the middle.
Clark was set to enter the final year of the $30 million, two-year contract he signed, but now the Chiefs are poised to clear $21 million in salary cap space to use in free agency. are
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Frank Clark #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after being sacked against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter in the AFC Championship Game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on January 29, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (David Ulitt/Getty Images)
Clark, 29, will hit free agency after helping the Chiefs run to a Super Bowl LVII victory, and the team will get someone who will perform well in the playoffs.
Clark ranks third in league history in total postseason sacks with 13.5, most of which came with the Chiefs. It started in 2020 when he had five during his first run to the Super Bowl, where he beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20.
Frank Clark of the Chiefs is crying tears of joy after winning the Super Bowl
He also had three in 2021, though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would beat the Chiefs in their home stadium thanks to some Tom Brady magic. Then, Clark tallied 2.5 sacks last season, one against the Jacksonville Jaguars and 1.5 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Clark totaled 39 tackles, eight for a loss, with 13 quarterback hits and five regular-season sacks in 15 games for the Chiefs this season.
Despite the Chiefs’ success, it was a tough year for Clark. He was suspended two games in October after pleading no contest to weapons charges in September. He was arrested in March 2021 after police found two guns in his car after he was pulled over in a vehicle with another man without a license plate. Three months later, he was arrested again on another gun charge.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, left, is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark for a safety during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)
Clark was ultimately sentenced in September to a year of probation and 40 hours of community service.
After the Super Bowl victory, Clark was crying tears of joy, knowing that he had faced trouble for having confetti thrown at his head in Glendale, Arizona last month.
The Chiefs defensive end was suspended 2 games last year for a weapons charge
“I’m just an excited man. Full of joy,” he told Fox’s Peter Schrager. “I had a tough year, a rough one. My teammates, they never lost faith in me. Just thankful. I’m very humbled and grateful. I have the best teammates in the world.
“Being able to come out here, had a lot of struggles in the first half. Come out in the second half and fix our mistakes and now we’re champions.”
Frank Clark #55 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs against the Philadelphia Eagles after Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. The Chiefs beat the Eagles 38-35. (Cooper Neal/Getty Images)
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A number of teams looking to upgrade their defensive front will look to add Clarke’s talents when the new league year begins on March 15.
