Chiefs Plan to Cut Frank Clark, Ravens Hire Dennard Wilson, and Other NFL Bullets
As we forge toward free agency next week, we will continue to see news of teams moving on from players, mainly to open up cap space. Yesterday was reports of the Rams shopping Leonard Floyd and Allen Robinson and the Vikings releasing Eric Kendricks. Today, it’s the Chiefs cutting Frank Clark.
- After four years in Kansas City, defensive end Frank Clark is on the way out. After failing to come to terms on a renegotiated contract, the Chiefs plan to cut Clark, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
- No surprise there. I tabbed Clark as a cap casualty in our Chiefs offseason preview recently. Clark was due to make a $20.5 million base salary. By cutting Clark, the Chiefs save $21 million against the 2023 salary cap and move from slightly over the cap to well under.
- Frank Clark had five sacks in 15 starts last season. He added 2.5 sacks in the postseason. Clark has spent four seasons with Kansas City and has 13.5 sacks in his postseason career. That’s the third-most in NFL history. Clark will be an interesting name in free agency. However, he will turn 30 in June.
- Former Eagles defensive assistant Dennard Wilson wasn’t out of work long. Just days after parting with the Eagles, Wilson is heading to Baltimore to join the Ravens coaching staff. The Ravens announced on Tuesday that Wilson would be joining the club as their new defensive backs coach. Wilson held the same role with the Eagles and was also their defensive pass game coordinator. However, Wilson left the Eagles after he was passed over for the DC vacancy in favor of Sean Desai.
- The Ravens released a statement on Tuesday regarding the hire:
“Dennard joining our defensive coaching staff is a strong addition to our team, and he will help us continue to develop our players and scheme in the strongest possible way,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. “Dennard is a proven coach who has brought the best out of his units consistently throughout his NFL career. His history of working with defensive backs at the highest level will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our room. We’re excited to welcome Dennard to the Ravens and know he’s looking forward to coming home to Maryland.”
- The Browns are currently $13.41 million over the salary cap and need to find a way to clear space. However, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Deshaun Watson is open to restructuring his deal to help.
- Watson’s 2023 cap charge is $54.993 million. The Browns could give him more bonus money upfront to lower the cap charge. Watson’s entire $230 million, five-year contract is fully guaranteed. So, it’s a simple matter of when he gets the money. According to Cabot, that restructuring could happen as soon as the end of the week.
- The Atlanta Falcons are re-signing pass rusher Lorenzo Carter to a two-year contract. The two-year deal will keep Carter from hitting free agency next week, according to Ian Rapoport:
- The Giants and Daniel Jones continue trying to work out a deal ahead of today’s franchise tag deadline.
- According to Josina Anderson, the Ravens, and Lamar Jackson continue to negotiate. But, the two sides seem to be heading for the franchise tag route:
- As far as both cases are concerned, Jones and the Giants aren’t nearly as far apart as the Ravens and Jackson. Plus, the contracts for Derek Carr and Geno Smith on Monday should prove the market for both sides and help the Giants get closer to Jones’ ask. So if either gets done, I expect it to be Jones and the Giants. Jackson and the Ravens seem too far apart at this point.
- Stay up to date with all of the franchise tag news here:
