Broncos sign Frank Clark

[broncosfan_101]

Meh, he’s probably cooked.

[broncos67]

4 minutes ago, broncosfan_101 said:

Meh, he’s probably cooked.

For one more year, sure. I'll take it.

[AnAngryAmerican]

Well not an hour I post about Cook we get this news. 

I don’t think Clark is a better player than Cook, but he fills a larger need, especially considering the news we got about Browning having knee surgery. 

[broncosfan_101]

4 minutes ago, AnAngryAmerican said:

Well not an hour I post about Cook we get this news. 

I don’t think Clark is a better player than Cook, but he fills a larger need, especially considering the news we got about Browning having knee surgery. 

Dalvin is 5x the player Clark is at this point. And if Javonte will be at all limited for even the first half of the season, I’d argue RB could be the bigger need. We’re one setback away from Samaje Perine, Feature Back. No question, relying on a corps of Browning, Gregory, and Bonitto is scary, but Perine is not gonna be able to move the ball. And that means Russ would have to cook.

[AnAngryAmerican]

18 minutes ago, broncosfan_101 said:

Dalvin is 5x the player Clark is at this point. And if Javonte will be at all limited for even the first half of the season, I’d argue RB could be the bigger need. We’re one setback away from Samaje Perine, Feature Back. No question, relying on a corps of Browning, Gregory, and Bonitto is scary, but Perine is not gonna be able to move the ball. And that means Russ would have to cook.

But middle of the road RBs as a dime a dozen to replace Perine et al if Javonte can’t play. Clark is a veteran piece with 2 rings who fills a niche on what is a young, injured, unproven group at EDGE.

Having a rotation at both spots is important. But if it’s Cook on the long-term, big money deal or a rental of Clark+cap space with the future in mind, I’ll take the latter. 

[broncos67]

3 hours ago, AnAngryAmerican said:

But middle of the road RBs as a dime a dozen to replace Perine et al if Javonte can’t play. Clark is a veteran piece with 2 rings who fills a niche on what is a young, injured, unproven group at EDGE.

Having a rotation at both spots is important. But if it’s Cook on the long-term, big money deal or a rental of Clark+cap space with the future in mind, I’ll take the latter. 

Agree wholeheartedly.

[Broncofan]

FWIW, Browning's news about having meniscus repair surgery (more likely the trim than the full reconstruction) likely influenced this signing.

If Clark ends up being our top or 2nd edge, that's a problem - he's clearly starting to decline.     If he's our 3rd/4th EDGE, then it's do-able.   It will be interesting to see if Ngakoue signs for similar $, and how that works out (I get that his size makes him a pure pass rush only guy in our 3-4, but honestly don't know that Clark adds much in run support at his current level of play, either).

We definitely need front 7 depth, ideally Clark would have been 2-3M to sign at most, but it's not an org-killer (just not great value).    Honestly, getting DL depth is the other major value add we need - our depth behind Zach Allen & DJ Jones is our clear roster weakness ATM.     Still, while I'm not really excited about adding Clark, getting some EDGE depth with Browning's latest news, I get it.  

Edited June 9, 2023 by Broncofan

[AkronsWitness]

On 6/9/2023 at 6:35 PM, Broncofan said:

FWIW, Browning's news about having meniscus repair surgery (more likely the trim than the full reconstruction) likely influenced this signing.

If Clark ends up being our top or 2nd edge, that's a problem - he's clearly starting to decline.     If he's our 3rd/4th EDGE, then it's do-able.   It will be interesting to see if Ngakoue signs for similar $, and how that works out (I get that his size makes him a pure pass rush only guy in our 3-4, but honestly don't know that Clark adds much in run support at his current level of play, either).

We definitely need front 7 depth, ideally Clark would have been 2-3M to sign at most, but it's not an org-killer (just not great value).    Honestly, getting DL depth is the other major value add we need - our depth behind Zach Allen & DJ Jones is our clear roster weakness ATM.     Still, while I'm not really excited about adding Clark, getting some EDGE depth with Browning's latest news, I get it.  

Problem is Ngakoue is a pass rush specialist only who cant play the run to save his life. I wouldn't be so eager to bring him in TBH. Maybe, just maybe, we should have used our 2nd round pick on a DE instead of yet another WR lol (sorry Im still a bit bitter).

The one name that is still out there that Im interested in is Matt Ioannidis who brings much more of a well rounded 3 down package to the table that Ngakoue does not. Hell, I wouldnt even be mad at Clowney over Ngakoue who is actually good at defending the run. Though you could chalk up 15 combined missed games a year between Clowney/Gergory.

If not Iaonnidis, then I wonder if the Broncos are just waiting for serviceable veterans to be bought out as training camp cuts where its like another round of FA.

Edited June 12, 2023 by AkronsWitness

[broncos67]

2 hours ago, AkronsWitness said:

Problem is Ngakoue is a pass rush specialist only who cant play the run to save his life. I wouldn't be so eager to bring him in TBH. Maybe, just maybe, we should have used our 2nd round pick on a DE instead of yet another WR lol (sorry Im still a bit bitter).

The one name that is still out there that Im interested in is Matt Ioannidis who brings much more of a well rounded 3 down package to the table that Ngakoue does not. Hell, I wouldnt even be mad at Clowney over Ngakoue who is actually good at defending the run. Though you could chalk up 15 combined missed games a year between Clowney/Gergory.

If not Iaonnidis, then I wonder if the Broncos are just waiting for serviceable veterans to be bought out as training camp cuts where its like another round of FA.

Draft needs to be about the future as much as the present. I think the WR feels superfluous until you realize that Hamler, and one of Sutton/Patrick (maybe both!) won't be on the team next year.

[AkronsWitness]

5 hours ago, broncos67 said:

Draft needs to be about the future as much as the present. I think the WR feels superfluous until you realize that Hamler, and one of Sutton/Patrick (maybe both!) won't be on the team next year.

Thats fair, but to play devils advocate its also one of the easiest positions to find talent at either in the draft or FA. We also have Russ on a timer and cant afford wasted years to build to next year. Gotta fix as many problems as possible for the right now in order to compete faster. Could have easily rolled out Callaway in that field stretcher roll this year and worried about regrouping at WR next year

Edited June 13, 2023 by AkronsWitness

[Broncofan]

10 hours ago, AkronsWitness said:

Problem is Ngakoue is a pass rush specialist only who cant play the run to save his life. I wouldn't be so eager to bring him in TBH. Maybe, just maybe, we should have used our 2nd round pick on a DE instead of yet another WR lol (sorry Im still a bit bitter).

The one name that is still out there that Im interested in is Matt Ioannidis who brings much more of a well rounded 3 down package to the table that Ngakoue does not. Hell, I wouldnt even be mad at Clowney over Ngakoue who is actually good at defending the run. Though you could chalk up 15 combined missed games a year between Clowney/Gergory.

If not Iaonnidis, then I wonder if the Broncos are just waiting for serviceable veterans to be bought out as training camp cuts where its like another round of FA.

Ioannadis would be a home run value sign.   He was one of the guys I thought we might go after early.   Would be awesome to get him at the late FA value tier.  

[AkronsWitness]

13 minutes ago, Broncofan said:

Ioannadis would be a home run value sign.   He was one of the guys I thought we might go after early.   Would be awesome to get him at the late FA value tier.  

Yeah! I preach this on the Browns board all the time but remember camp cuts. Every year 10+ veterans get cut because of salary cap reasons. Names you wouldn't expect. So there is still time to add another difference maker

[AKRNA]

11 hours ago, broncos67 said:

Draft needs to be about the future as much as the present. I think the WR feels superfluous until you realize that Hamler, and one of Sutton/Patrick (maybe both!) won't be on the team next year.

I agree. Personally I think Seans looking at building a team that will start being truly competitive in about 3-4 years.  

[Scoundrel]

On 6/8/2023 at 12:59 PM, broncosfan_101 said:

Dalvin is 5x the player Clark is at this point. And if Javonte will be at all limited for even the first half of the season, I’d argue RB could be the bigger need. We’re one setback away from Samaje Perine, Feature Back. No question, relying on a corps of Browning, Gregory, and Bonitto is scary, but Perine is not gonna be able to move the ball. And that means Russ would have to cook.

I’ll also add I bet Cook wants to sign for more than Clark got. Whether he gets it or not is a different story.

[lomaxgrUK]

I said in the position rating thread that our pass rush was severely lacking in quality and depth. I think this helps a bit, albeit there are a lot of caveats (health being the primary one).