The Cowboys made a blockbuster trade on Thursday, sending star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Packers in exchange for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and a pair of first-round picks.
The move wasn’t exactly unexpected. Parsons requested a trade in the weeks prior to the transaction, his relationship with his former employers seemingly tattered. Green Bay’s interest in Parsons took hold of newspaper columns across the country, with general manager Brian Gutenkunst forced to downplay the team’s interest in Parsons’ services on Wednesday afternoon.
Parsons’ absence will leave a caldera in Dallas’ defensive line. The 26-year-old EDGE tallied 52.5 sacks since his 2021 debut, the fifth-best mark in the NFL.
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Clark, 29, won’t be tasked with replicating his production outright. He’s a nose tackle, after all, expected to evoke fear in the backfield rather than turn quarterbacks to ashes.
But just how good is he? Can Clark, a former first-round pick, transform the Cowboys’ defense in 2025? Here’s what you need to know.
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Is Kenny Clark good?
Clark hasn’t hit the heights that Parsons has over the course of his career, but he’s been one of the league’s better defensive tackles for much of the past nine seasons.
Clark has three Pro Bowl appearances to his name (2019, 2021, 2023). A former first-round pick, Clark’s exploits netted him a three-year, $64 million contract extension in 2024. At his best, he’s a vaunted pass-rusher and run-stopper.
Clark has tree trunk-like limbs, strong hips, and a propensity for using quick punches and bull rushes to displace interior offensive linemen. At one point, he was arguably the league’s most effective nose tackle. In 2019, Clark produced six sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 62 QB pressures, the second-highest tally among interior defenders. He racked up 139 QB pressures and 110 run stops from 2017-19, one of the best marks in football.
He was summarily rewarded for his efforts, landing a four-year, $70 million extension in 2020. His $17.5 million AAV ranked fourth among defensive tackles, only bested by Aaron Donald, DeForest Buckner, and Chris Jones.
Clark endured a challenging 2024 season, seeing his numbers crater after suffering an early-season foot injury. While it’s possible he returns to his pre-2024 form, his age, recent injury history, and player profile don’t paint the rosiest image of his future prospects.
Cowboys EDGE depth chart
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Marshawn Kneeland |
| 2 | Dante Fowler Jr. |
| 3 | Donavan Ezeiruaku (R) |
| 4 | Sam Williams |
| 5 | James Houston |
| 6 | Payton Turner (IR) |
Kenny Clark Madden rating
Clark earned an 83 rating in Madden 26. He’s the joint 21st-highest-ranked defensive tackle in the game, level with Da’Ron Payne and Alim McNeill.
Kenny Clark age
Clark is 29. He’ll turn 30 on Oct. 4.
Kenny Clark contract details
- Years: Three
- Value: $64 million
Clark inked a three-year, $64 million contract extension with the Packers in 2024. $17.5 million of that total is guaranteed via Clark’s signing bonus.
Clark’s contract kicks in starting in 2025. He carries a cap hit of $3 million in 2025. That figure will balloon to $21.5 million in 2026 and $20 million in 2027.
Green Bay vowed to foot about $35 million worth of Clark’s contract. That should offer the Cowboys a bit more financial flexibility in 2025 and beyond.
Kenny Clark stats
Here’s a look at Clark’s numbers over the years.
| Year | Games | Tackles | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | QB Hits |
| 2016 | 16 | 21 | 0.0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2017 | 15 | 55 | 4.5 | 2 | 6 |
| 2018 | 13 | 55 | 6.0 | 1 | 9 |
| 2019 | 16 | 62 | 6.0 | 1 | 7 |
| 2020 | 13 | 42 | 2.0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2021 | 16 | 48 | 4.0 | 0 | 13 |
| 2022 | 17 | 53 | 4.0 | 1 | 10 |
| 2023 | 17 | 44 | 7.5 | 2 | 16 |
| 2024 | 17 | 37 | 1.0 | 0 | 5 |
