Does Frank Clark make sense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

The Seattle Seahawks have placed edge rusher Frank Clark on the trade block after failed contract talks. Are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a viable option?

The Seattle Seahawks are now looking to trade pass rusher Frank Clark after franchise tagging him this offseason and talks of a long-term deal have not been fruitful. At just 25 years old, is Clark worth pursuing in a trade for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

First, a domino effect of moves would need to happen in order for the Buccaneers to clear enough cap space to add Clark to their roster. Clark’s franchise tag is worth $17.1 million this season, and Tampa Bay currently has $1.75 million in cap flexibility.

However, with just a couple of cuts the Buccaneers would be in position to have enough room to hold Clark on their roster. Gerald McCoy currently has a stranglehold on the Buccaneers cap space with $13 million owed to him for the 2019 season; just by moving on from McCoy, Tampa Bay would see their cap space jump to $14.75 million.

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There are a couple other players on the roster who could be on the bubble, and by cutting them, the Buccaneers would have enough space to bring Clark onto the roster. William Gholston currently holds a $3.75 million cap hold as well. For an unproductive rotational defensive lineman, Gholston is more than expendable for the Buccaneers. Moving on from defensive back Ryan Smith would also clear just over $2 million in cap space as well.

Moving on from Gholston and McCoy alone would give the Buccaneers cap space to hold Clark on their roster, Smith could give them some padding to their cap space. Now, what would the Seahawks demand in return for Clark?

At this point, Seattle is asking for a first round pick in return for Clark, but the market has already been set at a high second round pick when the San Francisco 49ers traded for former Kansas City Chief Dee Ford. Make no mistake, a 25 year old pass rusher in his prime is better than any player the Buccaneers would be able to draft with the 39th overall pick in the draft and would be well worth the cost of a second round pick.

Clark has only seen time as the full-time starter off the edge in Seattle over the past two seasons after he recorded 10 sacks in a rotational role and just five starts in 2016. Over the past two years since being named the starter, Clark has tallied a total of 22 sacks and 20 tackles for loss and hit opposing quarterbacks 48 times.

With a desperate need at pass rusher, the Buccaneers have already signed Shaquil Barrett to a one-year deal, and Tampa Bay could completely overhaul the group if they landed Clark in a trade with the Seahawks. The talented pass rusher does, however, bring with him a checkered past.

Four years ago, Clark was involved in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend at the time and was charged with domestic violence after the police arrived at the scene. He has since gotten in belittling arguments with women reporters in Seattle who seek to question him about his past as well.

The Buccaneers have a way to clear a path and have a valuable asset to land Clark. If they are not concerned with Clark’s past, which would be disturbing, then general manager has been known to make trades for players who are looking to be dumped by their current teams, including Jason Pierre-Paul just one year ago.