​Like a parade of fresh faces, Kenny Clark is set to join Cowboys training camp later this month, his first taste of Dallas’s program. Yet with 11 seasons already on the ledger, he stands not as a rookie but as a seasoned voice and a pivotal contributor on a defense undergoing a notable transformation. He arrives as a veteran presence, a stabilizing force who figures to help steer a unit in flux as team construction pivots toward a more versatile, modern front.
Background
Years in NFL: 10
Acquired by: Trade (2025)
Dak Prescott remains the lone holdover from the Cowboys’ 2016 draft class, but the pipeline has grown with a couple of additional names who were part of that broader cohort. Kenny Clark and Jonathan Bullard each went off the board prior to Prescott in that same weekend’s draft, with Clark landing in Green Bay as a first-round pick, 27th overall. Unusually young for a high-level lottery, Clark was just 20 years old when he was drafted. As a rookie, he carved out a few starts but spent the majority of his first season as a rotation piece. He earned a full-time role in 2017 and has held that status ever since, anchoring Green Bay’s defensive front for eight seasons. While he has been primarily a run-stopper and nose tackle, Clark consistently delivered in the 4-6 sack range for much of his Packers tenure, highlighted by a career-best 7.5 sacks in 2023. That year also marked his third and final Pro Bowl moment.
The late-summer move to Dallas came last August, when Green Bay traded Clark to the Cowboys in exchange for Micah Parsons. A week later, he started at defensive tackle against the Eagles, instantly marking a shift for Dallas’s interior rotation. The Cowboys had favored smaller, quicker interior options for a long stretch, so Clark’s presence introduced a different dimension to the front line. He started all 17 games that season, with midseason addition Quinnen Williams complementing him as Dallas began a defensive modernization that continues into the current offseason.
Even amid a few rough patches for Dallas’s defense last year, Clark stood out as one of the more dependable performers. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 38th-best interior lineman, a respectable ranking given that many of Dallas’s defenders were among the league’s most challenged at their positions. If the 2026 season brings improved coaching and a less chaotic environment, Clark could shine even brighter, leveraging his interior prowess to anchor a more cohesive unit.
Contract Status
Years Left: 2
2026 Cap Hit: $12.7 million
Last March, Dallas restructured Clark’s contract to generate roughly $11 million in cap space, a move designed to stabilize the cap picture while preserving his veteran value on the field. Although he will turn 31 this October, Clark’s extensive mileage from a long career in the trenches remains a consideration. The restructuring makes it highly likely he remains in Dallas at least through the end of the current contract, potentially through the 2027 season, assuming the Cowboys’ financial plan and on-field performance align with their long-term goals.
In 2026, with a cleaner defensive slate and a coaching staff positioned to maximize his strengths, Clark has an opportunity to elevate his production and leadership. For Dallas, he represents a bridge between a recent past of turnover and a future that emphasizes stability, versatility, and a front that can adapt to multiple schemes. As training camp begins, all eyes will be on how Clark integrates with new teammates, how coaches deploy his unique skill set, and how his presence translates into tangible improvements for a defense that is eager to reclaim efficiency and identity.