Ravens expected to trade safety Chuck Clark, per report

The future of one key Baltimore Ravens defensive leader has come into question following the 2022 NFL Draft with trade rumors circulating around safety Chuck Clark.

Clark has been a regular starter in the Ravens’ defense for the last three seasons. He’s a team leader on and off the field. He wears the green dot. He’s everything the Ravens love in a player and more.

However, following the addition of former Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton in this year’s draft, many are wondering what the future holds for Clark. That includes those around the NFL.

CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported earlier in the week that it’s “hard to see [the Ravens] keeping Clark” this offseason after drafting his replacement.

Would the Ravens really trade Chuck Clark?

If the Ravens were to trade Clark, it would be more of a football decision than a financial one. He’s on a very team-friendly contract with a cap hit of under $5 million in 2022.

Trading him would save the Ravens under $3 million, and doing so would see the team part with a crucial team leader and a darn good player to boot. Clark is a valuable member of the Ravens, and he’s not someone they’re necessarily looking to part ways with.

However, if the right deal comes along, they likely won’t hesitate either.

That’s the sentiment shared by The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec who reported that the Ravens would “absolutely deal him if they got a suitable offer.”

There’s still a role for Clark on the team even after adding Hamilton. The Ravens could definitely find a home for Hamilton, Marcus Williams, and Clark in their defense, especially if the latter is open to playing more as a sub-package linebacker.

The Ravens still need linebacker help and using Clark more at the position would allow them to not only get their best 11 players on the field, but it would also help solve their secondary logjam.

The question is whether or not Clark is open to such a move. On top of that, if some team does come calling with an attractive trade offer, the Ravens might just take the deal instead.

Chuck Clark is a valuable member of the Ravens’ roster and not someone they want to move on from, but many around the league feel that his departure is inevitable. This is a situation that bears monitoring.