The Denver Broncos are releasing defensive end Frank Clark in his first season with the team, a team source said. Here’s what you need to know:
- Clark is the second notable veteran defensive lineman the Broncos have moved on from recently after the team traded edge rusher Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers leading up to Week 5.
- The Kansas City Chiefs are interested in bringing back Clark and have had internal discussions about possibly signing him, per league sources.
- The Broncos signed Clark, a former Seattle Seahawks and Chiefs defender, to a one-year deal worth $5.45 million guaranteed (via Over the Cap) in June.
- Clark, 30, only played 36 snaps in two games this season. He has tallied 58 1/2 sacks over his nine seasons in the league.
Why the Broncos are making this move
The decision to part with Clark, similar to last week’s move to trade Gregory, was rooted in two things: Denver’s desire to create more snaps for a young group of pass rushers led by Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper; and the Broncos’ spot at the bottom of the standings.
The Broncos may not be done making moves ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline. Denver is 1-5 following Thursday night’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and is angling toward a rebuild. — Nick Kosmider, Denver Broncos writer
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How Clark could help a different team
It was an underwhelming and brief stay in Denver for Clark. He played in only two games due to injuries and tallied two tackles. He dealt with an adductor injury heading into Week 2 and played in only 11 snaps when he returned against the New York Jets last week.
Still, Clark has a reputation as a pass rusher who comes up big in the playoffs. His experience as a two-time Super Bowl champion could make him an option for contenders adding situational pass-rushing depth ahead of a postseason run. — Kosmider
Backstory
Clark came to Denver after spending the last four seasons as a fixture among the Chiefs’ defensive front, amassing 23.5 sacks during his time there. Clark spent the previous four seasons with the Seahawks after the team selected him in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Required reading
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- Sean Payton put a bull’s-eye on the Broncos, and teams have been happy to take aim
(Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images)