gs. Cowboys’ Key Piece in Micah Parsons Deal Now Top Trade Deadline Candidate – A Three-Time Pro Bowl Inside Lineman on the Block

In a stunning twist to what was already one of the most controversial trades of the 2025 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves at a crossroads just days before the trade deadline. The team that shocked the league by shipping star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for two first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark is now reportedly shopping the very asset meant to shore up their defensive front.

According to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, Clark—a three-time Pro Bowl inside lineman—has emerged as a “notable trade candidate” for the Cowboys. What was billed as Jerry Jones’ masterstroke to bolster the run defense has quickly soured, with Clark’s underwhelming performance raising questions about the long-term viability of the deal. As the deadline looms on Tuesday, November 5, Dallas could flip the 29-year-old veteran for additional firepower, potentially recouping some value from a transaction that’s already drawing widespread criticism.

The Parsons Trade: A High-Stakes Gamble Gone Awry

Rewind to late September, when the Cowboys pulled off what Jones called “the move of the year.” Parsons, the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year and a perennial All-Pro, was packaged off to Green Bay amid contract disputes and a perceived lack of commitment from Dallas’ front office. In return, the Cowboys landed Clark—a proven interior disruptor from the Packers’ stout defensive line—along with the 2026 and 2027 first-round picks.

At the time, the rationale seemed sound. Dallas’ run defense had been gashed for much of the season, ranking dead last in yards allowed per carry. Jones hyped Clark as the “crucial run-stopper” who would transform the Cowboys’ defensive identity, allowing them to pair him with existing talents like Osa Odighizuwa and DeMarcus Lawrence for a more balanced front seven.

But three months later, the shine has worn off. Clark, who earned his third Pro Bowl nod in 2023, has struggled to replicate his peak form. Last season’s dip in production was chalked up to a nagging ankle injury, but 2025 has brought even steeper declines. Pro Football Focus (PFF) currently grades Clark as the 68th-best interior defender among 128 qualified players, a far cry from his top-20 finishes in prior years.

His run defense, the very skill set Dallas craved, has been downright abysmal. Clark’s PFF run-blocking grade sits at a dismal 46.0—ranking 101st out of 128 defensive interiors. Opponents have averaged 4.8 yards per carry against him, and he’s been flagged for holding or penalties on 12% of his pass-rush snaps, per Next Gen Stats. “It’s not the player we scouted,” an anonymous Cowboys defensive coach told league sources. “Kenny’s effort is there, but the explosion isn’t.”

Clark’s Silver Lining: A Pass-Rush Spark in a Sinking Ship

To Clark’s credit, he’s shown flashes of the disruptive force that made him a cornerstone in Green Bay. This season, he’s generated 23 pressures, including 19 hurries and two sacks, often collapsing the pocket from the A- and B-gaps. His quick-get-off rate (78th percentile) and win rate on double-team blocks (top-40) suggest the tools remain intact for pass-rushing duties.

Yet, that’s cold comfort for a Cowboys defense that’s hemorrhaging points and yards. Dallas is surrendering a league-worst 404.6 yards per game—31st in the NFL, ahead only of the hapless Cincinnati Bengals. More alarmingly, they’re allowing 31.3 points per contest, also 31st, turning Arrowhead Stadium into a shootout haven for visiting offenses. Injuries to key pieces like linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and safety Jayron Kearse have exacerbated the issues, but Clark’s integration woes have only compounded the chaos.

“The Parsons trade was supposed to make us tougher up front,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said after Sunday’s 34-24 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. “We’ve got the picks in the bank, but right now, we need wins. Kenny’s a pro, but we have to evaluate all options.”

Deadline Maneuvers: Swinging for the Fences (and Missing)

With Parsons thriving in Green Bay—tallying 8.5 sacks and forcing three fumbles in eight games—the irony isn’t lost on Cowboys fans. Dallas has been aggressive in the market, targeting edge rushers to fill the void left by their former star. Proposals for Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson (a two-time Pro Bowler with 12 sacks through nine games) and Las Vegas’ Maxx Crosby (leading the league with 10 sacks) fell flat, with both teams demanding premium assets Dallas wasn’t willing to part with.

Enter Clark as the potential trade chip. Barnwell’s report highlights interest from at least three contenders: the Baltimore Ravens, who need interior depth behind Justin Madubuike; the Detroit Lions, looking to fortify their Super Bowl push; and the New York Jets, desperate for any defensive help amid Aaron Rodgers’ injury-riddled campaign. A second-round pick or a package involving a young cornerback could entice Jones to pull the trigger, especially if it clears cap space (Clark’s $18.75 million cap hit ranks seventh among defensive tackles).

League insiders peg Clark’s trade value at a mid-first-rounder in a vacuum, but his current form might net only a third-rounder plus change. Still, for a Cowboys team sitting at 3-6 and staring down a brutal NFC East schedule, any return beats stagnation.

Looking Ahead: Rebuilding or Reloading?

As the deadline ticks down, Jones faces a defining moment. The Parsons deal was meant to signal a reload around Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, banking on draft capital to rebuild the roster. But trading Clark now would smack of desperation—a tacit admission that the “move of the year” was a miscalculation.

For Clark, a fresh start could reignite his career. At 29, he’s not washed; he’s just miscast in a scheme that hasn’t maximized his strengths. Wherever he lands, expect a motivated veteran eager to prove his Pro Bowl pedigree.

Dallas fans, already reeling from Parsons’ departure, brace for more upheaval. In a league where fortunes flip faster than a screen pass, the Cowboys’ deadline dealings could either salvage their season or accelerate a full teardown. One thing’s certain: Jerry Jones isn’t done wheeling and dealing.