Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Kenny Clark (95) reacts on the bench in the second half against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Cowboys make major move regarding Pro Bowl DT Kenny Clark

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics
By Jackson Loschko | Last updated Mar 10, 2026 4:42 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys acquired Kenny Clark from the Green Bay Packers as part of the Micah Parsons trade. The three-time Pro Bowler had a solid inaugural season in Dallas after battling a lingering foot/toe injury a year ago that required surgery last January, improving at rushing the passer, but wasn’t as effective against the run. Clark recorded a 12% pass-rush win rate, 44 pressures, 34 hurries, nine quarterback hits and three sacks across 17 starts. He also totaled 36 tackles, six TFLs, 13 run stops and a measly 4.8% stop rate.

Clark enters the second-to-last year of his contract and is scheduled to earn a non-guaranteed $8.88M base salary, an $11M roster bonus due March 13, a per-game bonus totaling $1M, a $700K workout bonus and a $21.5M cap charge in 2026. He will also earn a non-guaranteed $18.3M base salary, a per-game bonus totaling $1M, a $700K workout bonus and a $20M cap hit in 2027. The Cowboys want to retain the three-time Pro Bowler but want to restructure his contract, with the $11M roster bonus due date looming.

Dallas Cowboys make major move with Kenny Clark

According to Todd Archer of ESPN NFL Nation, the Cowboys have restructured Clark’s contract by converting his $11M roster bonus into a signing bonus, adding three void years and freeing $8.8M in cap space. As a result, his base salary remains the same while his $21.5M cap hit drops to $12.7M in 2026. Meanwhile, his prorated $11M roster bonus will be spread evenly over $2.2M per year, increasing his future cap hit by that amount. Lastly, if the front office moves on from Clark next offseason, they will incur $8.8M in dead cap, rather than $0 if they never restructured.

Per sources, the Cowboys have restructured Kenny Clark’s contract, turning the $11 million roster bonus due next week into a signing bonus to open up roughly $8.8 million in salary cap space.

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) March 10, 2026