Frank Clark trade looks even better in retrospect for Chiefs

If you look back at the Frank Clark trade, you might be surprised at just how much it tips in favor of the Chiefs at this point.

Important disclaimer: The Kansas Chiefs were supposed to get the better end of the Frank Clark trade in the short-term. The same goes for any team who swaps draft assets for a current player. The team importing the actual player should be the one enjoying the immediate dividend. That’s just the way these things work.

Last spring, the Chiefs flipped a first and third round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft along with a second round selection in 2020 for Clark, a veteran defensive end, and third round selection Khalen Sanders. Again, K.C. expected to win this deal in the short-term but even the early draft pick results don’t look too hot for the Seahawks.

Let’s go back and reflect upon the deal. On April 25th, the Chiefs announced the following trade

Chiefs trade:

• 1st round pick (2019, 29th overall)
• 3rd round pick (2019, 92nd overall)
• 2nd round pick (2020)

Seahawks trade

• Defensive end Frank Clark
• 3rd round pick (2019, 84th overall)

Over the course of draft weekend, the unidentified pieces were unveiled. The Seahawks stayed in place and used the Chiefs extra first round pick on L.J. Collier. In the third round, the Chiefs stayed in place and grabbed small-school defensive lineman Khalen Saunders. A few picks later, the Seahawks traded the Chiefs former third round pick along with a fifth to move up and take Utah linebacker Cody Barton.

Let’s review the component parts one season later.