Kansas City Chiefs: Trading for Frank Clark seems unlikely
By John McCarty
Clark would make a lot of sense for the Chiefs on the field
Yes, Frank Clark makes a lot of sense for the Chiefs in terms of on the field production and potential. The Chiefs could use a defensive end in their new scheme capable of both stopping the run while also getting after the quarterback.
Why does trading for Frank Clark make sense in the same offseason the Chiefs traded away Dee Ford?
First, Frank Clark is two years younger than Dee Ford, which is relevant in the NFL. Clark will turn 26 this summer while Ford is 28.
Secondly, in his first four seasons in the NFL, Clark has appeared in 62 of the possible 64 games. Ford, on the other hand, missed ten games during the 2017 season dealing with a back injury while almost missing two games in 2015 and one game in 2016. (It should be noted, Ford missed a majority of his pre draft workouts due to a back injury.)
Lastly, Frank Clark is a far better fit for what Chiefs want to do. Regardless to what some radio hosts will tell you, Dee Ford was not a good fit in the new defense. Underweight last season playing well below his 250 listed weight, Ford actually started last season sub 240.
Dee played parts of last season at 6-2, 233 pounds. His initial replacement, Okafor, is 6-4 260 and a more consistent run defender. He’s also better equipped physically to do the stunting & games new DL coach Brendan Daly will teach. So in this case, scheme fit is probably real.
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) March 16, 2019
Frank Clark is 265 pounds and stands 6’3″. That’s good size for a defensive end in a 4-3 style scheme that asks the ends to stop the run while also getting after the passer.