offGrid NFL - Chiefs cut Playoff Hero Edge Rusher

The Kansas City Chiefs have released edge rusher Frank Clark after four seasons.

This move was necessary for the Chiefs as Clark had the fourth highest cap hit of all edge rushers, closing in on $30 million. With the Chiefs needing to free up cap space in time for free agency and the draft, the veteran DE could not be kept around. After trading for Clark in 2019, his time in Kansas City has come to an end.

Frank Clark will have a fascinating market. Over the last three seasons, Clark has posted a total of 15.5 sacks, but he's been incredible in the playoffs.

Also, talking to players in KC right after the Super Bowl, it was apparent how much Clark means in that room. Big voice
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) March 6, 2023

Clark was a solid DE in the regular season for the Chiefs, but he upped his game when it mattered the most. He has the third most sacks in playoff history with 13, the majority of these coming with the Superbowl wins in Kansas. His contribution will not be forgotten my Chiefs fans and it is likely that they would not have won two Superbowls without him.

Teams across the NFL will be competing for the signature of Clark, with high level DEs always being in demand. One likely destination is San Francisco. After the 49ers attempted to trade for him last season they now have the opportunity to sign him out of free agency. Another possibility is in Chicago, with the Bears having a large amount of cap space they are likely to pursue many highly regarded players.

The Chiefs are going to need to replace the production they are losing from this release. There is hope that George Karlaftis can step up and become a star on the Chiefs’ defence. There are also plenty of draft picks available for 2023 if GM Brett Veach wishes to bring a young edge rusher onto the scene.

Whatever the Chiefs decide to do fans must remember one thing: They have Patrick Mahomes at the helm, so they will continue to be competitive.