Dallas rebuilt the front after trading Micah Parsons for two first-round picks and Kenny Clark from Green Bay, then paired Clark with Odighizuwa before adding Williams at the trade deadline. That sequence created a high-cost trio aimed at strengthening the interior rush and run defense.
Clark signed a three-year extension in 2024 worth $64 million, but the deal functions as a year-to-year arrangement, with $17.5 million guaranteed. If the Cowboys cut him, they’d avoid dead money on the cap and could save about $21 million, with $11 million of the guarantee kicking in on March 14.
A trade for Clark remains a possibility, though teams may anticipate a release, reducing urgency to make a deal. Industry observers at Spotrac have floated the idea of jettisoning a defensive lineman as a cost-control move, given the interior trio’s high combined price.
Experts also note that the Cowboys could draft and develop interior pressure to create a stable, cost-controlled solution, especially since the March roster bonus ($11 million) looms large in any decision. This perspective aligns with the broader conversation around reshaping the front to fit cap realities.
Ultimately, owner Jerry Jones has said Dallas can make it work with all three, but the March cap dynamics and the front’s cost will likely influence whether Clark remains part of the plan or becomes a trade or release candidate as the club retools around Williams and Odighizuwa.
