Defensive end Frank Clark is now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. Just two days before the 2019 NFL Draft, the Chiefs make a megadeal in exchange with the Seattle Seahawks.
Trade Details
The trade compensation results in the Chiefs acquiring a 3rd round pick in this year’s draft along with Clark. In return, Seattle receives a 1st round pick in this year’s draft, a 2nd round pick in 2020 and a 3rd round pick this year.
As far as the trade details, the Chiefs had four 2nd round picks total combined between this year’s draft and the 2020 NFL Draft after the trade that sent Dee Ford to San Francisco. With that added draft capital, it allowed for Chiefs general manager Brett Veach to look around to upgrade the team. Kansas City has three picks as of now in the first three rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft. That is two 2nd round picks (61st overall, 63rd overall), and a 3rd round pick (84th overall).
In addition, the Chiefs have signed Clark to a 5 year contract extension for $105.5 million, $63.5 million is guaranteed. An extension had to be made to complete this deal, as Clark received the franchise tag from the Seahawks earlier this offseason.
What This Means For KC
People will always quickly jump to who “won” or who “lost” a trade. While draft capital is important, how many rookies usually make an impact right away? The Chiefs still can add couple of really solid defensive players by Friday at the end of the second day of the draft. By Saturday, the Chiefs may already have a better defense on paper than last year’s team and a more aggressive defensive coaching staff. Plus with the recent rumor of Montez Sweat dropping in the draft due to medicals, Rashan Gary having new medical information and other pass rushers being out of reach possibly at pick 29, KC may have been stuck in reaching for a guy in round one.
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As for that new defensive scheme, Clark fits it better than Ford or Justin Houston would have. Clark is an elite pass rusher, but he can also play run defense, which was not always what you were going to get from Ford/Houston.
Clark played in a 4-3 defensive scheme in Seattle, and has totaled 35 sacks in his career. He accumulated 13 sacks last season, which was a new career high and best for the seventh most sacks in the league. He also has 72 quarterback hits over the past four seasons. Clark has also continually pressured the quarterback, amassing the fourteenth most pressures over the last three seasons.
2019 and Beyond
While some will like the trade and some won’t, the Chiefs fill a need of adding an elite, young pass rusher and are trying to go all in to win the Super Bowl while they can still pay Patrick Mahomes for cheap. The only question is, he has some character questions. There is a past domestic abuse arrest which kicked him off of the Michigan Wolverines football team. But Clark is ready to play in Kansas City. Here’s what he had to say on the move: “I feel like I’m good. I wanted to be somewhere where I’m wanted, where I’m appreciated. I thank God that KC came in and showed that. In life you just want to be shown that you are appreciated sometimes and I feel like this was one of those things.”
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– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.
