The Seattle Seahawks are signing former Denver Broncos pass rusher Frank Clark, pending a physical, team sources said. CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson first reported the news. Here’s what you need to know:
- The Broncos released Clark two weeks ago after signing him to a one-year deal worth $5.45 million guaranteed in June.
- Clark, 30, only played 36 snaps in two games this season.
- The three-time Pro Bowler spent the first four seasons of his career with the Seahawks and has tallied 58 1/2 sacks over his nine years in the league.
Why add Clark?
Seattle has a need for an edge rusher because starting outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu is set to have season-ending surgery to repair a pec injury suffered in Seattle’s win over Arizona on Sunday. Clark didn’t register any pass-rush statistics. He did, however, record a couple of tackles against the Raiders in Week 1.
Clark was productive in his most recent stint with the champions in Kansas City. He had 14 quarterback hits, five sacks and a pressure rate of 10.2 percent, which ranked 80th among the 178 defenders with at least 200 pass-rush snaps, according to TruMedia. Clark finished just a few spots ahead of Seattle’s Darrell Taylor, who led the team with 9 1/2 sacks and had a pressure rate of 10 percent. — Michael-Shawn Dugar, Seahawks staff writer
What he brings to Seattle
Clark made three consecutive Pro Bowls (2019-21) in Kansas City and did some of his best work in the postseason. He recorded 10 1/2 sacks and 14 quarterback hits across 12 career postseason games.
His final season in Seattle was his best. In 2018, he set a single-season career high with 27 quarterback hits and 13 sacks. That season is Seattle’s most recent with a player eclipsing 10 sacks and is the highest single-season total of the Pete Carroll era. And Clark did it with Clint Hurtt as his position coach and defensive tackle Jarran Reed, who had 10 1/2 sacks that year, as his running mate. Reed is now the captain of the defensive line and Hurtt is the defensive coordinator. Those familiar faces – along with guys like Bobby Wagner and Carroll – should make this transition back to Seattle a smooth one for Clark. — Dugar
Required reading
(Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images)
