Grading every Chiefs first-round pick during Brett Veach’s tenure
By Matt Conner
2019: Used in trade for Frank Clark
Back in the 2019 NFL Draft, the offices at Arrowhead were still being reconfigured to accommodate Steve Spagnuolo and a new defensive staff after years of Bob Sutton on the sidelines as defensive coordinator. To help the roster accommodate the change as well, the Chiefs needed a new defensive anchor up front who would serve as the team’s primary pass rusher and leader.
One man who fit the role was frustrated out on the West coast. Frank Clark was a young, talented defensive end who had just threatened to sit out of team workouts until he got a new contract from the Seattle Seahawks. While Seattle GM John Schneider said all the right things about wanting Clark long-term, the truth is that he was working behind the scenes to secure a solid draft haul for the rights to Clark so his team could move on from the drama.
In the end, the Chiefs traded their first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, a 2020 second-round choice, and a swap of third-round choices in 2019 in order to get Clark on the roster. They immediately followed up that trade announcement with news of a new five-year contract for Clark to make him comfortable in K.C. Just like that, Spags had his new leader.
The Seahawks had mixed results on the trade haul they landed, as defensive end L.J. Collier was the main prize, the first-round choice gained, and he put up three sacks in four years before leaving Seattle. However, the Seahawks gained some valuable cap space and they flipped some other picks for some current starters, including linebacker Cody Barton.
As for Clark, his legacy is a polarizing one for some Chiefs fans. He never provided the regular-season production that fans expected from a $20M/year player on the books, but there’s also no denying his leadership in the locker room and his ferocity on the field when it mattered most. When the lights were brightest, Clark was at his best and the results speak for themselves.
We’ll dock the grade a bit here, but the truth is we should all be thrilled with this run of success no matter the cost. Remember, keep the bigger picture in mind.
Grade: B