Will the 49ers Sign Frank Clark?

Last week, the 49ers traded with the Broncos for edge rusher Randy Gregory, who's 31 and has just 19.5 career sacks. Clark is better than Gregory.

Another talented edge rusher is available for the 49ers if they want him.

The Denver Broncos released veteran defensive end Frank Clark today. They tried the past few weeks to trade Clark, but were unsuccessful, despite the fact that Clark is only 30 and has 58.5 sacks in his career. Now the 49ers can sign him on the cheap.

Will they?

Last week, the 49ers traded with the Broncos for edge rusher Randy Gregory, who's 31 and has just 19.5 career sacks. Clark is better than Gregory. So will the 49ers sign Clark?

Unlikely.

Remember, the Broncos have been trying to trade Clark for weeks. The 49ers called Denver, inquired about trading for an edge rusher, got to pick between Gregory and Clark, and chose Gregory. That's probably because Clark has some baggage in his past that the 49ers don't want to associate themselves with.

I expect Clark will sign with his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs, who also need to add an edge rusher, and the 49ers will stick with Gregory.

"Good person," defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said of Gregory. "I think he's going to fit right in with the culture we have here. He understands the tempo of how we practice. I love the way he moves around, and just his willingness to get in here at all times of the day just trying to absorb and learn this defense says a lot about him."

Even run game coordinator Chris Foerster had glowing things to say about Gregory, whom the 49ers faced in the playoffs in 2021 when he was with the Cowboys. 

"Randy had an unbelievable year that year," Foerster said. "I mean, he was as good a rusher as we’d faced all season. He was powerful, he was long, he was quick, he was agile, he played with great effort and energy. And I don’t know what happened the next couple years, but ‘21 when we played him in that playoff game, you want nothing to do with that guy. Trent [Williams] was like, this guy’s at another level right now. It’s the best he’s ever played. So that was what I remember of him. After that, I don’t remember. We played him in the preseason, they were playing him in the fourth quarter. I don’t know what was going on out there, so I can’t put too much stock in that, but it’s been up and down. But that ‘21 season was, oh my gosh, lights out."

Gregory could make his 49ers debut this Sunday in Cleveland when the 49ers take on the Browns.