Kenny Clark #95 of the Dallas Cowboys
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Kenny Clark #95 of the Dallas Cowboys
It has not been the most prominent question for the Dallas Cowboys as they seek to revamp their moribund defense after last season’s disastrous performance, but it has been a lingering one: What’s going to happen with Kenny Clark?
Clark was the player the Cowboys brought back, along with two first-round picks, in the deal with Green Bay for pass-rusher Micah Parsons. That was after the Cowboys committed to defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa with a four-year, $80 million contract but before the NFL trade deadline deal that brought in star defensive lineman Quinnen Williams.
That’s a very talented rotation up front, but it is also a very expensive one, as Williams is entering the third year of a four-year deal worth $96 million and Clark is in the midst of a three-year, $64 million deal with a cap hit of $21.5 million for 2026.
That’s led to widespread speculation that Clark would have to go, either via trade or by an outright release. The Cowboys like Clark, and like all three of their top linemen, but paying around $65 million for the group is unsustainable. That’s why Clark frequently figures on lists predicting NFL “cap casualty” players–his contract is not guaranteed, and he’d be the easiest of the trio to cut.
Cowboys’ New Defense Fits Kenny Clark Well
But it looks like the Cowboys are planning to sustain it. That was clear when new defensive coordinator Christian Parker was asked in an appearance on 105.3 The Fan radio in Dallas what the plan was at defensive line–and Parker raved about Clark, who was on the Packers when Parker was the defensive quality control coach in 2019-20.
Parker said Clark fits his defensive system perfectly, and envisions a bright future for Clark in his system.
“Up front, you want guys to be aggressive because you have to convert to pass-rush and everything like that,” Parker said. “So when you think about, when I was in Green Bay with (Kenny Clark), he was the best nose in football, in my opinion, at doing this style because he plays with good length and he has a good anchor.
“Quinnen Williams, this is how he played at Alabama, this is what (Nick) Saban does in the mid-front and everything else with that. You’re getting guys off the ball, it’s just how you play the blocks in the run game, restricting that space.”
Cowboys Will Require ‘Resources’ Up Front
Parker was also clear that it will take resources to run the kind of defense he wants to run with the Cowboys–especially up front.
Said Parker: “The resources—those teams that are really good at that front, you look at the front seven and it’s like three, four first-rounders. You gotta pay to play for that.”
There is a salary cap, of course, and the Cowboys will need to tinker to make things work up front with Clark staying on the roster. That is almost sure to include a contract extension and a short-term reduction for Clark, and maybe for Williams and Odighizuwa, too. The Cowboys will just be pushing financial obligations forward under that plan, but it is the most logical way to handle the money.
Kenny Clark Could See Contract Extended
Nick Harris, the Cowboys beat writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, wrote this week from Indianapolis that the Cowboys could take an all-of-the-above approach with their linemen contracts, giving an extension to Williams and restructuring Odighizuwa’s, too.
As Harris wrote: “Multiple sources tell the Star-Telegram that the Cowboys are working this week to figure out that situation before the new league year begins by meeting with the representation of all three players.
“Clark’s salary for 2026 is not triggered until March 14, so an extension to push his money down the line is the likeliest scenario for him. Williams could also see an extension (currently set to expire after the 2027 season) or a restructure, and Odighizuwa could see a restructure.”