Chris Jones won’t stop believing in Frank Clark’s return to Chiefs

Frank Clark is still a free agent, and Chris Jones is not going to stop banging the drum for his return to Chiefs Kingdom.

We’re all well aware that Chris Jones controls most things, at least at the line of scrimmage. Just how far his influence reaches beyond that… well, we’re not sure. We might find some sort of an answer soon enough if Jones gets his way with the Chiefs roster.

Right now, Jones’s former teammate and friend Frank Clark is still sitting there in NFL free agency available to the highest bidder (or at least the preferred destination). Clark has spent the last four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs after the team traded for him back in Steve Spagnuolo’s first season as the team’s defensive coordinator.

Over time, it became clear that Clark’s production was not proportional to the vast sums of money he was set to make from a team that was squeezed financially and both sides were able to work out a restructured deal to at least keep Clark in K.C. through the 2022 season. Now he is a free agent currently being paid $7 million by the Chiefs not to play for them (dead money).

While a good amount of Chiefs fans have made overtures on social media about a desire to see Clark back in K.C. for another year, reality has also set in that the Chiefs have turned the corner—or at least it’s seemed that way. Consecutive first-round picks on defensive ends have brought the starters of the future into view with George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Charles Omenihu was the big free agent signing this spring as a versatile player who can play heavy reps. Given Mike Danna’s presence as a veteran holdover, the Chiefs actually look solid at pass rusher with developing young talent like fifth-round pick B.J. Thompson around as well.

Is there room, then, for Clark? Jones doesn’t care. He started publicly calling for the Chiefs to bring him back on social media. Here’s where it started.

Then the next day, Jones posted this:

Earlier on Wednesday, Jones clarified his stance.

Given the way Clark plays in the postseason especially and his overall leadership for the team, this isn’t an idea to easily dismiss. It’s also not that easy because the Chiefs would have to find the money to pay Clark after already having to pay him in dead cap space. What’s the limit here? And will Jones understand?

Jones himself wants a long-term contract extension, so surely he knows that conducting business for one player means severing ties with another. As great as it would be to have Clark back, the Chiefs have also made measures to replace him. We’ll see who has influence here.