The Seattle Seahawks are trading defensive end Frank Clark to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for multiple draft picks, according to several reports.
Seattle is set to acquire the Chiefs' first-round pick in this week's NFL Draft, No. 29 overall, and a 2020 second-round pick. The teams will also swap third-round selections this season with the Chiefs getting No. 84 overall and Seattle getting No. 92 overall. The second-round pick will be the lower of Kansas City's two second-round selections next year.
Clark confirmed the deal to KJR's Cliff Avril shortly after the initial reports emerged from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
"He said it's pretty much a done deal," Avril said. "They're working out the kinks to the deal right now. He will definitely be heading to the Chiefs."
"I just asked him 'hey man, are you getting that bag?' and he was like 'yes sir!' He's confident they'll get something done."
In order to facilitate a trade, the Chiefs needed to reach a new contract with Clark and reports of an agreement soon followed. Per Schefter, Clark is getting a five-year deal with the Chiefs worth a total of $105.5 million with $63.5 million guaranteed. The total exceeds the five-year deal given to Demarcus Lawrence by the Dallas Cowboys last month. Lawrence did get a total of $65 million in guarantees from Dallas.
Clark will need to pass a physical with the Chiefs for the deal to be completed.
Assuming the deal becomes official, the Seahawks will free up $17.1 million in salary cap space for 2019.
Seahawks General Manager John Schneider admitted on Monday that finding a way to keep Clark, linebacker Bobby Wagner and defensive tackle Jarran Reed would be difficult.
"Feasible, very challenging," Schneider said.
The Seahawks are now quite thin on production at the defensive end position. Second-year players Rasheem Green and Jacob Martin are joined by Quinton Jefferson, Nazair Jones, Cassius Marsh and Nate Orchard. Marsh's 5.5 sacks last year with San Francisco are the most by any of the five players in any season of their careers. Seattle could now use some of the money previously allotted to Clark to add free agent pass rushers, such as Nick Perry or Ezekiel Ansah, who both remain free agents.
Seattle now has five draft picks at their disposal. The 21st and 29th overall picks in the first round, No. 92 in the third round, No. 124 in the fourth round, and No. 159 in the fifth-round.
Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WA - OCTOBER 1: Running back Frank Gore #23 of the Indianapolis Colts is tackled by defensive end Frank Clark #55 of the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on October 1, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)