Cowboys Could Cut Starter After Spinal Fusion Surgery

Damone Clark's character is such that at LSU, he was selected to wear the famed No. 18 jersey assigned to a player who exemplifies the best of qualities on and off the field.

After having been a Dallas Cowboys' fifth-round pick in 2022, Clark started the long climb to full health after an MRI at the NFL Scouting Combine revealed a herniated disc that would require spinal fusion surgery.

Clark eventually fought his way to a full-time starting spot on a good 2023 Dallas defense, the 6-3, 240-pounder creating a path for himself that seemed so clear ...

But one that is now muddled.

The Cowboys are about to enter NFL free agency with a shot at having $100 million in shopping room. Every dollar helps ... which is why an option to free up even more spxw is to simply cut players who’ll be accounting for more money than they’re worth. 

The unfortunate truth for Damone Clark is he now might be one of those players.

He’s due $3.3 million this year if the Cowboys want to keep him. But he’ll account for essentially zero dead money (about $60,000) if the Cowboys elect to cut him. 

So the question: Is $3.3 million in savings significant enough to say goodbye? 

Clark - who slid down last year in the pecking order and was essentially only a special-teamer can no longer be projected as a starter here. The Cowboys team will be without DeMarvion Overshown for most of if not all of the 2025 season, but he's got a job when he returns. The team loves Marist Liufau, last year's rookie find.

And if new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus - who is skilled at coaching the position - wants to push to spend money at linebacker? Guys like Nick Bolton and Dre Greenlaw are on the open market and can be in the conversation ...

Or, COO Stephen Jones can push to add a $3 million linebacker who is superior to Clark. (If it was up to just-departed coordinator Mike Zimmer, that push would be to bring back Eric Kendricks.)

Damone Clark has a heck of an impressive story to tell. But next up comes a difficult chapter - a $3.3 million chapter.