Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton has vowed that there would be “churn” on the team’s roster in the coming weeks.
To that end, veteran defensive end Frank Clark came to terms with the Broncos on a one-year contract on Thursday, according to numerous club sources. Clark’s contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, could be worth up to $7.5 million, including a guaranteed base salary of $5.5 million.
Clark, who turns 30 on Wednesday, was released by the Kansas City Chiefs on March 1 after the team was unable to reach an agreement with his agent, Erik Burkhardt, on a new deal.
Given that linebacker Baron Browning, who has not participated in on-field work in OTAs, recently underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair some cartilage damage, and Randy Gregory had an injury-marred season in 2022 that included a knee injury, the Broncos have some room on the edge.
Gregory was one of the Broncos’ biggest free agency signings a year ago, signing a five-year, $70 million contract. Gregory, however, only participated in six games due to a knee injury suffered in Week 4.
Payton has said repeatedly that the organisation will make moves to retool a lean roster. The Broncos haven’t entered the playoffs since their Super Bowl 50 victory in 2015.
“I’ve said it before, you’re going to churn certain position groups based on getting a chance to see other players,” Payton said after Thursday’s practise.
Clark was traded to the Chiefs by the Seattle Seahawks in 2019. In four seasons with the Chiefs, he appeared in 58 regular-season games and totaled 23.5 sacks.
Clark’s most productive games were often in the playoffs. Clark recorded 10.5 sacks in 12 postseason games with the Chiefs. After the 2019 season, he got three sacks in a divisional round game against the Houston Texans. Clark is third all-time with 13.5 career postseason sacks while with the Seahawks.
Clark was banned for two games during the 2022 season by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct code. Clark pled no guilty in September in Los Angeles to two charges of misdemeanour assault weapon possession and was sentenced to one year of probation and 40 hours of community service.
He has 58.5 sacks and 14 forced fumbles in his career and has been named to three Pro Bowls.
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