KC Chiefs: Four players who need to step up in 2021

Frank Clark

I’ve talked about Frank Clark over and over again. This horse has been beat to death, I know. However, it would still be foolish not to add the pass rusher to the list of Chiefs players who need to step up in 2021.

2020 was yet another disappointing regular season from Clark, and the postseason didn’t really live up to the hype either. I’ve already written articles highlighting Clark’s mediocre pressure rate, pass rush arsenal, and ability to wreck the game. Many seemed to have turned on Chris Jones, which I’ve also talked about, but you have to realize that a defensive tackle who is working with next to zero edge presence makes his job that much harder.

Jones was among the most double-teamed lineman in all of football last year and the fact Clark did nothing to really change that is significant. Luckily, the Chiefs did acquire former teammate of Clark in Jarran Reed who should help out the pass rush, but that doesn’t change the fact Clark needs to win in one-on-one situations and prove he’s worth his contract.

One major reason why the Chiefs lost the Super Bowl was likely because they got zero pressure on Tom Brady all night and a lot of that falls on Clark. Let’s all hope Clark can put together a regular season like his last one in Seattle, because K.C. has seen nothing close to that since he’s arrived. Otherwise, that contract will continue to look like an albatross.