The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to release DE Frank Clark after they were unable to come to an agreement on a reworked contract that would lower his salary cap number for the 2023 NFL season.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chiefs met with Clark’s agent Erik Burkhardt in an attempt to find common ground on a reworked deal but were unable to do so. That’s despite both Brett Veach and Andy Reid striking a hopeful tone during their media availability at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. Kansas City is now expected to release the 29-year-old defensive end, according to Schefter.
This move will free $21 million in salary cap space for the Chiefs, but they’ll also incur over $7 million in a dead money charge for the upcoming season. There remains a chance that Clark could return to the team after his release, but he could also receive significant interest on the open market.
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
The Chiefs first acquired Clark in trade from the Seattle Seahawks ahead of the 2019 NFL draft, signing him to a five-year contract extension worth over $100 million. Clark started 55 regular-season games in the past four seasons, recording 127 total tackles, 35 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks. During the playoffs, Clark was an entirely different beast. He recorded 32 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in 12 games started.
If this is the end for Clark in Kansas City, he’ll leave a two-time Super Bowl champion and have little regrets about his time with the team.
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