The Ravens and Panthers may fight the Cowboys over Super Bowl champion free agent linebacker, Frank Clark. According to a report, many sources urge the Cowboys to sign the Michigan product to replace Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence. The Cowboys escaped New York with a win over the Giants but they’re losing the long hill battle after losing their two best defensive pieces. Parsons’ injury is an ankle sprain, but Lawrence will miss ample time.
Dallas already has questions about their defense after struggling this season with the run against opposing offenses. After losing Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr., the team responded by signing Eric Kendricks. There was some head-scratching already about whether or not the team would continue looking for replacements. However, Lawrence is in the final year of his contract so that means he probably won’t come back next season especially if the team sees he can’t stay healthy.
Clark is a 31-year-old veteran and three-time Pro Bowler who is past his prime but he could be a reliable edge rusher. After being let go by the Chiefs in 2022, the veteran was bouncing around the Broncos and Seahawks playing just 178 snaps last season. He’s probably never getting back to elite form but the edge rusher should have plenty in the tank to offer the troubles of the Dallas defense. The Cowboys have Carl Lawson to turn to but no one knows what he could do since he hasn’t been able to play a snap this season.
Lawson will have large shoes to fill but that should motivate Dallas to get some extra veteran insurance to help him. The Cowboys have one of the worst defenses this season with a depleting secondary. The Ravens and Panthers may be on the veteran’s radar.
Ravens, Panthers May Fight Cowboys Over Super Bowl Champion Frank Clark
More Baltimore Firepower
The Ravens still arguably have an above-average defense despite losing Jadeveon Clowney and Patrick Queen this past offseason. Roquan Smith is still on the roster but that leaves David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh for big shoes to fill alongside him. It isn’t the best linebacker group like the Ray Lewis days but the Ravens couldn’t afford to spend a high-price player in this past offseason. However, Clark is still looking for a job and he would probably be open to signing with the team late in-season to possibly win one more ring before he retires.
No one should expect the Ravens to be big-time buyers in this year’s trade deadline. What might make sense is a veteran free agent signing that has experience on their resume ready to step up. Clark could be their man starting and helping Ojabo and Oweh. Trenton Simpson could learn for a year before him and the Ravens could always elevate him for another time.
Revival in Carolina
It’s safe to say the Panthers’ chances of reaching a postseason are over. After losing Derrick Brown and Shaq Thompson, the defense is on life support looking for a change. They’ll probably tank this year but if they want to boost their chances, they should sign a pair of veterans to at least reach a wild card. Quarterback Andy Dalton is nothing but a bridge player but if the offense doesn’t have any left, then relying on their defense might be best.
There’s something teams do best when they have a depleting offense, they depend on defenses winning championships. The Panthers don’t have anything to lose per se this year so they might as well construct a powerhouse defense. It may be hard to do that with Jaycee Horn as the lone star in the secondary but it’s worth a try. Jadeveon Clowney is already on the roster, so why not team him up with Clark as the two-set reliable veteran pack?
