Frank Clark Restructures His Deal as Broncos Fire Sale Begins

Photo Credit: David Zalubowski, AP

The Denver Broncos have restructured their deal with outside linebacker Frank Clark, giving him $1.686 million in guaranteed salary while simultaneously only making his remaining contact only worth the veteran minimum of $841,000. This is perhaps to make his contract more attractive on the trade market, as it has been made clear to ESPN’s Field Yates that both parties are preparing to part ways. This is only Clark’s first season with the Broncos, but he has only played two games this season, dealing with injuries and illness.

Frank Clark’s days as a Bronco are coming to an end, per sources. Be it via a trade or release, the team will be moving on from Clark soon.

It’s the second pass rusher Denver will have parted ways with in recent days, as the team traded Randy Gregory less than a week ago.…

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 12, 2023

This is the second pass rusher to depart from the organization in recent days, as LB Randy Gregory was traded to the San Francisco 49ers only a week prior. These few changes are not unwarranted, as both players have not lived up to their expectations, what with low production and absence from the field. At the same time, onlookers cannot help but see a potential tanking in the Broncos’ near future.

The Broncos have not played to their potential, neither on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, and with the impatience that new head coach Sean Payton is expressing with his players and coaching staff, it appears to be time for Payton to make a change. As of now, the Broncos have only traded or prepared to trade Gregory and Clark, but those two are certainly not the only Broncos players on the trade block.

Randy Gregory was the first player the Broncos traded this season, but might not be the last. Denver has gotten calls about other players as well and could be active ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline depending on how the next few weeks go, per sources.https://t.co/KxSZFLql3m

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 8, 2023

As Schefter reported, the Broncos have also garnered interest from teams about wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy. According to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, offensive tackle Garett Bolles is another target on the Broncos offense that interests a few teams, and although his contact would be hard to work out, he is a player that would field a lot of value. Rumors have also been swirling that the Broncos are not afraid to trade away even more of the players from their underperforming defense. 

Whatever the case, many of these potential trade targets are merely speculation, but this speculation is not unwarranted. If the Broncos continue to falter, Sean Payton may not falter on pulling the plug on the season by trading away this older team and preparing for the future of the franchise. There is certainly no lack of suitors.