KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to release three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Frank Clark, per ESPN Senior Reporter Adam Schefter.
Chiefs and Frank Clark’s agent Erik Burkhardt were unable to find common ground on a reworked deal during several conversations at the combine and the expectation now is that Kansas City will release the 29-year-old DE who is the NFL’s third all-time leading postseason sack… https://t.co/IqjwATIWSt
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 6, 2023
Schefter said Clark's agent was unable to rework a deal with the team after several conversations.
Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach hinted that a cap-relief might be coming at the NFL Scouting Combine last week when asked about Clark's status.
“We’ll probably, to a certain extent, need some cap space,” Veach said. “But we have a long history with him and his agent, so he'll be one of the many conversations we have this week. We look forward to getting with him and seeing if we can work something out that makes sense for both parties.”
Clark’s cap hit was at nearly $29 million, according to Over the Cap. The team will save $21 million against the cap by releasing him.
Before the move, Kansas City was $3.5 million over the cap. All NFL teams must be under the salary cap before 3 p.m. Central time on March 15, when the new league year begins.
During the 2022 offseason, Clark reworked his contract to remain with the Chiefs. He originally joined the team via trade from the Seattle Seahawks before the 2019 season.
Clark has played in 58 regular-season games with Kansas City, totaling 23 1/2 sacks with 127 tackles, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception.
He is third all-time in postseason sacks with 13 1/2 in 17 playoff games with the Seahawks and Chiefs, including a career-high five sacks en route to his first Super Bowl win with Kansas City during the 2019 season.
After recording zero sacks in the 2021 postseason, Clark had 2 1/2 sacks last offseason in helping the Chiefs wins a second Super Bowl in his four years with the team.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones alluded to Clark’s release during Super Bowl LVII media availability.
#Chiefs Chris Jones: "This room is gonna be different next year....They might not be here next year because of financial reasonings. They might go and get paid somewhere else. I understand that" @KSHB41 pic.twitter.com/1XxNSqEQq4
— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladd0) February 10, 2023
There is a chance that Clark could still return to the Chiefs, according to NFL Reporter James Palmer, especially because of his relationship with coach Andy Reid.
“I love Frank Clark,” Reid said. “Veach has got to juggle all these different things going on, but Frank is top notch — a top-notch guy. I love him, love him to death.”
The #chiefs plan to release pass rusher Frank Clark per source. There is the chance he returns to KC. The relationship between Clark and Andy Reid is a special one. But Clark should get plenty of interest on the open market considering his ability to make game changing plays
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) March 6, 2023
Clark was arrested in March 2021 and again in June 2021 on gun possession charges in Los Angeles. He originally pleaded not guilty to the charges in October 2021 then pleaded no contest to the same charges close to a year later.
Clark was sentenced to one year of probation and 40 hours of community service.
The NFL suspended Clark for two games for violating its Personal Conduct Policy, so he missed games in November against Tennessee and Jacksonville last season.
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