Cowboys navigate cap constraints, keeping Pro Bowler Kenny Clark with a restructured deal, silencing trade speculation.
FRISCO - Was the point of trading away Micah Parsons - and specifically asking for Kenny Clark in return - all about “borrowing’’ the latter player for a few months?
It was not.
The Dallas Cowboys entered the new league year with work to do in its accounting department.
Recent numbers displayed Dallas as being in the red for the 2026 season, though it is literally impossible for a team to operate with negative cap room; we have detailed for months how the Cowboys will maneuver their way out of this situation that some pundits call “Cap Hell” ...
With ease.
How do they do it? In large part by “flipping the switches’‘ on player contracts, thus lessening the cap hit on this year’s newly-raised $300+ million ceiling. It’s a process the Cowboys are familiar with (but too many media folks still aren’t).
There were such moves made on mega deals on Dak Prescott, Tyler Smith and CeeDee Lamb. ... and is Dallas under the cap.
Then came moves on Terence Steele and Malik Hooker's deals.
Meanwhile ...
The Cowboys boast three above-average defensive tackles, but they come with high-priced contracts that each exceed $20 million annual value.
Osa Odighizuwa, a homegrown talent, signed a four-year extension at the beginning of last year’s free agency. Quinnen Williams, the Cowboys’ lone defensive Pro Bowler, joined the team already under contract for 2026 after his midseason trade. Third is Kenny Clark, who was part of the trade return for pass rusher Micah Parsons in August, along with extra first-round draft pick assets.
The Cowboys have shown no signs of moving on from this three-headed monster on the interior D-line, but some outlets don’t think it’s feasible - or smart - to have three of your top six earners playing the same position.
Because of this, ESPN proposes that Clark gets traded ... but aside from the minor cap relief, his mock trade means Dallas doesn’t get anything in return.
Writer Bill Barnwell suggests that if the Joneses were to cut Clark anyway, maybe they could get something in return, but only offers a sixth-round draft pick - while giving up the player and a seventh.
In other words, trade a solid starter in exchange for ...
Nothing.
But Dallas, as we've reported often, was never going to cut this player. Instead, predictably, they moved some of his money, with Todd Archer first to note that a change in bonus structure will keep Clark on the team while carving out $8.8 million in cap room.
Clark, a three-time Pro Bowler, may be on the downward trajectory of his career, but he’s still a valuable asset on the field. (Not to mention in the locker room, where’s he’s been long heralded as a natural leader.)