The Denver Broncos could be throwing in the towel on the 2023 season under Sean Payton's first year with the team. After yet another loss, Denver sits at 1-5 and appears headed for a fire sale.
Already, they parted with Randy Gregory via trade and just a couple of days ago, they released Frank Clark. It's a sign that they will surely be sellers at the deadline later this month.
As for Clark, where could he end up signing? We have a few teams that seem to make a lot of sense, starting out on the East coast.
1. New York Jets
The Jets were the offseason darlings. They owned that title ever since they decided to go after Aaron Rodgers, becoming that team which goes all-in on winning this year. But, when Rodgers went down, that changed things significantly.
Still, the Jets remain a competitive football team. Their defense has remained a steady unit, although not one of the top-five like they thought they'd be. New York is actually in the bottom half of the league in sacks with just 13 on the year, and because their defense has been on the field so much, the numbers say they're just an average unit.
Getting another pass rusher would certainly help their cause, though. The Jets might need to make a move at quarterback, too, but that's a story for another time. For now, signing Clark would give their defense a big boost.
Look, at 3-3 the Jets are far from out of the playoff picture. They have held their own against both the Chiefs and the Eagles. Don't count out a move or two from this team to try and keep the faith this season.
2. Detroit Lions
Why wouldn't the rich want to get even richer? The Detroit Lions lead the NFC North at 5-1 and are tied for the league's best record overall. Aidan Hutchinson looks like one of the best defensive players in all of football and has become a total game-wrecker.
Detroit is in the middle of the pack with 15 sacks on the year (the league leader is Baltimore with 24). Their defense has been strong against the run, coming in at no. 1 in the NFL through six weeks and allowing just 64.7 yards per game. Against the pass is where they've been average, and again, adding a prolific pass rusher would certainly help.
Only two Lions have two or more sacks on the year, with Hutchinson totaling 4.5 and defensive tackle Alim McNeill housing 2.0. Prior to the regular season, edge rusher looked like a position of strength for the Lions. They even had some tough decisions when it came to making roster cuts, because the position was so deep.
Now, though, it appears as though they could use another one. Clark could be that guy.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
The last and most obvious destination for Clark is with the Kansas City Chiefs; the team he spent the past four seasons with, winning two Super Bowls and earning three Pro Bowl appearances. There is a lot of speculation about Clark going back to the Chiefs, and there are so many reasons why it makes sense.
First of all, Clark would basically be a plug-and-play signing for the Chiefs. Clark knows the defensive scheme under Steve Spagnuolo, as "Spags" has been there dating back to 2019 when Clark first joined the Chiefs.
The Chiefs are also one of the top defenses in football, owning the league's no. 2 overall scoring unit and being sixth in yards allowed per game. Kansas City has depended on its defense, more so than their offense, through the first six weeks of the season. Clark would help this defense continue their trajectory.
Obviously, Clark would want to win another Super Bowl, and the Chiefs maybe give him the most appealing opportunity to do so. That's a locker room and atmosphere he is used to, and a team he loved playing for. Why wouldn't he go back?