The Baltimore Ravens are running short on edge rushers and could look to a free agent like Frank Clark down the stretch. While veteran Kyle Van Noy and former first-round pick Odafe Oweh are holding up their end of the bargain, the Ravens desperately need more depth. They tried to find it with Ngakoue, signing the one-time Pro Bowler to a one-year deal midway through the season. While he didn’t set the world on fire, the nine-year veteran recorded 1.5 sacks, five tackles, one tackle-for-loss, and four quarterback hits as a reserve part of the defense.
Baltimore released Ngakoue following the trade deadline but wanted to re-sign him after he cleared waivers. That never happened, as the New England Patriots brought him in following the Josh Uche trade. While the Patriots are going nowhere fast, the Ravens are legitimate Super Bowl contenders and should add as much talent as possible between now and the postseason run. While the free agent market is mostly devoid of talent, someone like Frank Clark might be able to help down the stretch.
Ravens Could Pursue Free Agent Frank Clark
At his best, Frank Clark was one of the league’s top pass rushers. A second-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Michigan product first made a name for himself with the Seattle Seahawks. Following a modest rookie campaign, Clark broke out with a 10-sack season in 2016 and followed it up with two more impressive campaigns. Following the expiration of his rookie contract, Seattle traded Clark to the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2019 offseason.
Clark spent the next four seasons in Kansas City and immediately became a Chiefs legend. From 2019 to 2021, the former second-round pick made three consecutive Pro Bowls while recording a combined 18.5 sacks in the regular season. However, what truly made him special was his work in the postseason. Clark came through with multiple big plays at the biggest moments, playing a pivotal role in two of Kansas City’s three latest Super Bowl championships.
Is Anything Left?
Frank Clark had a great career, but there is a reason the three-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion is still a free agent. Following a relatively pedestrian 2022, Kansas City released Clark and his massive cap hit. The veteran landed with the Denver Broncos and did next to nothing with his former division rivals, appearing in just two games while recording two tackles. Clark made a brief cameo with the Seahawks following his Broncos release, but even then he only recorded six tackles in six games.
Chances are, Frank Clark doesn’t have anything left in his tank. However, the Ravens might as well kick the tires and test that theory. Seeing as he’s still unsigned, Baltimore should be able to sign Clark to the practice squad for essentially no money. They took this same approach with Ngakoue, and history could repeat itself here. If Clark shows some life in practice, he could earn a spot on the roster in December. However, if he has nothing left, the Ravens can cut him with no harm done.
Main Photo: Kyle Terada – USA Today Sports
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