Looking at the Rams’ roster, there’s no bigger need than edge rusher. That’s been the case since March after the team let Leonard Floyd go in a cost-saving move.
With the trade deadline approaching, Los Angeles would be wise to consider upgrading the pass rush around Aaron Donald – especially with Michael Hoecht struggling on a weekly basis. The team to call is probably the Broncos, who are on the verge of having a fire sale in Sean Payton’s first season.
The team already traded Randy Gregory and now Frank Clark is likely to be on the move. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Clark took a pay cut that lowered his salary to the minimum of $841,000. This was done to make it easier for the Broncos to move him, and according to Field Yates of ESPN, his time in Denver is ending whether it’s via trade or outright release.
Clark is a 30-year-old edge rusher with past character concerns and an expiring contract, so he’s not going to fetch very much on the trade market – especially if the Broncos plan to cut him anyway if a trade isn’t made. It could be a similar deal to the one the 49ers made for Gregory, which was a late-round pick swap in 2024.
Keep an eye on this one: The #Broncos and DE Frank Clark agreed to a pay cut that takes his $3.5 million base salary down to the minimum the rest of the way $841k), sources say. Clark gave back $1.679 million in base pay as part of the restructure. pic.twitter.com/fTpOuoeV0l
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 12, 2023
The biggest benefit of this move is Clark’s lower salary. If the Rams were to trade for him, he’d only cost them $841,000 the rest of the season instead of about $2.5 million – a reduction of $1.679 million. So assuming they wouldn’t give up a very valuable pick, making this trade would be low-cost and thus, low-risk.
Los Angeles has Donald, who’s playing well, and Byron Young, who leads all rookies with six quarterback hits. But outside of that, there is very little pass-rush production on this team. Even with Ochaun Mathis back, the Rams could use some help on the edge and Clark could be just what the doctor ordered.
At the very least, Les Snead should call the Broncos to find out what it’d take to acquire Clark. If the cost is too high, fair enough. But in the event that it’d only take a late-round pick in 2025, Snead should consider making the move.
