Report: Chiefs Convert $5M of Frank Clark's Salary to Bonus for Cap Flexibility

The Kansas City Chiefs and defensive end Frank Clark have reportedly agreed to convert $5 million of his 2020 base salary into a signing bonus to create more salary-cap space with free agency set to begin Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. 

Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network reported the update.

Clark was scheduled to make $17 million in base salary as part of his five-year, $104 million contract with the reigning Super Bowl champions, per Spotrac.

The Chiefs acquired the University of Michigan product in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks last April.

Clark recorded 37 total tackles, eight sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception across 14 appearances during his first year in K.C. He added five tackles and five sacks in three playoff games during the team's run to the championship.

The 26-year-old California native has tallied 44 sacks in 76 regular-season games across five years.

He was ready to quickly to turn the page on the Chiefs' title during an appearance on ESPN's Golic and Wingo (via Pete Sweeney of Arrowhead Pride) last month:

"Enjoy it for the moment, enjoy it for those few weeks, but then after that, you've got to get back to work. The work doesn't stop, man. While we celebrating and stuff like that, there's already guys who've made the decision to go back to work and compete against us next year. The goal is to come back and be there every year. Although that's not going to happen like that, that's the goal. You want to do everything you can to put yourself in position to do that."

His restructured contract will give Kansas City some much-needed flexibility heading into the new league year. The Chiefs were projected to have just $409,000 in cap space, the third-lowest total in the NFL, per Spotrac.

Clark will remain a crucial piece of the team's pass rush alongside Chris Jones in 2020.