KC Chiefs add safety Justin Reid, rework Frank Clark contract: NFL free-agency tracker
The NFL’s open-negotiation period — the league’s window for “legal tampering” — officially opened Monday at 11 a.m. Central time.
And it was a busy day for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs and the NFL’s 31 other teams are allowed to negotiate with the agents representing pending unrestricted free agents around the league. Deals can be agreed upon but cannot be finalized until after Wednesday at 3 p.m. Central time, the start of the NFL’s new calendar year.
On Monday evening, a source confirmed the Chiefs and defensive end Frank Clark had agreed to a restructured contract, a two-year deal worth $29 million and as much as $36 million.
Entering the fourth year of the five-year, $105.5 million contract he signed when he arrived via trade from Seattle, Clark was set to count $26.3 million against the salary cap in 2022. Reworking his contract allows the Chiefs flexibility to continue tweaking their roster.
The Chiefs were $5.9 million over the salary cap entering the day on Monday, according to the NFLPA Public Salary Cap Report. The salary cap for 2022 is set at $208.2 million, a $25.7 million increase from 2021.
As the two-day window for open negotiations continues Tuesday, the Chiefs will be looking for ways to remain cap-compliant while also improving their roster.
Here’s what else has transpired so far this week, specific to the Chiefs and their needs, as players around the league are released elsewhere and linked to Kansas City:
- The Chiefs lost a starting cornerback to free agency. Charvarius Ward agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49ers on a three-year deal worth up to $42 million, ESPN reports. Ward’s departure means the Chiefs will rely heavily on L’Jarius Sneed and Rashad Fenton, barring moves in free agency and the draft to bolster the position group.
- The Chiefs are signing Houston Texans safety Justin Reid to a three-year deal, a source told The Star. Financial terms were not disclosed. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Chiefs will pay Reid $31.5 million, including $20 million guaranteed. Reid, 25, has seven career interceptions in four NFL seasons. His signing all but ensures Tyrann Mathieu will sign elsewhere.
The Chiefs are bringing back fullback Michael Burton on a one-year deal, a source familiar with the situation told The Star. Financial terms were not disclosed. Burton was mostly used as a lead blocker and in short-yardage situations, converting eight first downs on eight carries in 2021, and scored a touchdown against the Chargers.
- Running back Darrel Williams will test the market. The Chiefs and Williams’ camp attempted to work on a deal to keep the rusher in Kansas City before the start of the open-negotiation period but couldn’t reach an agreement, a source familiar with the situation told The Star.
- The Packers on Monday released linebacker tackle Billy Turner and linebacker Za’Darius Smith, and both players could be fits in Kansas City.
- The Chiefs are among the teams thought to be interested in wide receiver Jarvis Landry, if the Cleveland Browns release him, according to the NFL Network.
- The Chiefs are interested in Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson, according to multiple reports. Robinson, who will become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday afternoon, played for Matt Nagy in Chicago and totaled 293 catches for 3,561 yards and 18 touchdowns over the past four seasons.
Also, colleague Sam McDowell on Monday wrote about what he believes the Chiefs should do with each of their 22 in-house free agents.
This story was originally published March 14, 2022 at 12:08 PM with the headline "KC Chiefs add safety Justin Reid, rework Frank Clark contract: NFL free-agency tracker."
