How KC Chiefs could adjust to potential Frank Clark punishment

The Kansas City Chiefs have gone to back to back Super Bowls, but there is still room for improvement. Specifically at edge rusher, the Chiefs have an obvious need for more production than they got last year, and that was before Frank Clark got into some legal trouble which could cast a shadow over his availability early. While no one knows what will happen just yet, it’s possible that Clark could receive a suspension of some kind.

A former Seahawks pass rusher, Clark was targeted by a trade by the Chiefs in 2019 and was projected to be the piece of the puzzle that they were missing in 2018. As the Chiefs transitioned from Bob Sutton’s defense to Steve Spagnuolo’s, Clark was seen as the new cornerstone for Spags’ defensive front and he finished the 2019 season with 37 total tackles, 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 12 tackles for loss.

Although his 2019 was strong, Clark struggled in 2020 to put up consistent production. That’s not good for a player taking up so much of the salary cap.

It was reported last week that Clark had been charged with possession of an concealed firearm in California, although the process has been slow and no one knows exactly how it will play out. Will it even be resolved by the regular season?  Will Clark face a fine? Is a suspension even possible?.

Where it looks worse is that this was Clark’s second such charge in a matter of three months. Although, there is no clear word on what charges he will face from the NFL, it’s important to be prepared for the worst. Here’s a couple ways the Chiefs could handle any sort of absence from Clark.

Scenario 1: Move Jones outside

Chris Jones’ career started as a defensive end, and it’s safe to say that the Chiefs have a lot more depth at defensive tackle than the edge position. With names like Jarran Reed, Derrick Nnadi, Khalen Saunders, and Tershawn Wharton, they have multiple rotational pieces at the tackle position.

Moving Jones back to the outside could allow for a rejuvenation of Jones given his excitement to play the position. The team has already stated they want to experiment with Jones outside from time to time, but no one is certain how often. If Clark is absent for any predictable stint, perhaps sliding Jones back to the outside could be a way to maintain production at the edge.

Scenario 2: Sign Ingram

The Chiefs need to add some depth at edge rusher, and given the potential punishment for Clark, they can use this opportunity to sign Melvin Ingram.

Ingram is known as a very good pass rusher, and well respected in the league for his ability to get to the quarterback. He’s struggled with hamstring and knee injuries over the past couple years, but he couldn’t find a better opportunity for himself in KC.

In the past, Ingram has been an explosive and quick pass rusher thwhoat would offer the Chiefs another depth piece on the line at the bare minimum. If he proves to be healthy and motivated by a chase for the ring, he could offer a productive starter.

The Chiefs already hosted Ingram for a free agent visit, which is why these dots are connected in the first place. A signing of Ingram was called for by a lot of the Chiefs fan base at that point, and with the Clark situation, they could get exactly what they have been hopping for.

Although there is no current evidence Clark may even miss a game this upcoming season, it’s nice to be prepared. If you were to do either of those things, you could find yourself in a much better situation than you could be.