Two of the key contributors on the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVII-winning roster might not be on the team once the 2023 season kicks off. According to multiple reports, the Chiefs are planning to release Pro Bowl defensive end Frank Clark and let Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. test the free agency.
Clark will reportedly be released after his representatives and the Chiefs couldn’t agree on a contract restructuring. The 29-year-old player had 5.0 sacks and 39 tackles in the regular season in 2022 while adding 2.5 sacks in the playoffs. He is currently third on the NFL’s all-time list in postseason sacks with 13.5.
Brown played the 2022 campaign on a franchise tag after being unable to get a long-term deal done with Kansas City last year. The two sides returned to the negotiating table recently but were still too far apart on the numbers. Many expected Kansas City to give Brown the franchise tag again, but the organization opted to go down the same route this offseason and will let the Oklahoma product enter free agency.
The Kansas City Chiefs are forced to let Clark and Brown walk due to their salary cap situation. Clark was set to have a $28.7 million cap hit this upcoming season, and by releasing him, the Chiefs are saving $21 million in cap space. Keeping Brown on the second franchise tag, on the other hand, would cost the team $19.92 million.
