Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
Defensive tackle Kenny Clark is excited to join the Dallas Cowboys after being traded for Micah Parsons.
Kenny Clark may have been shocked by the Micah Parsons trade, but his focus remains the same as he begins life with the Dallas Cowboys.
“I’m here to ball,” the 29-year-old defensive tackle said in a YouTube video posted by the Cowboys. “I’m here to be my best self. I feel like when I’m my best self, there’s nobody messing with me.”
The Cowboys acquired Clark and two first-round picks from the Green Bay Packers in a blockbuster deal for the three-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler Parsons on Thursday.
“I was shocked,” Clark said. “I was shocked. But once (Cowboys owner and general manager) Jerry (Jones) and all those guys called me, (head coach Brian Schottenheimer) and everybody, I just felt wanted. It’s a blessing. I’m appreciative of it.”
What to Know About Kenny Clark
On the heels of signing a $64 million extension, Clark registered just one sack in 2024 — the lowest total since his 2016 rookie season — and four tackles for loss on 685 snaps. He also had two fumble recoveries.
Pro Football Focus ranked Clark 85th out of 219 eligible interior linemen with a 59.3 grade, including 62nd as a pass rusher.
The 2016 first-round pick (27th overall) from UCLA was an otherwise impact performer in Green Bay, recording 35 sacks and eight fumble recoveries over 10 seasons. He also made three Pro Bowls.
Now, he’ll need to adapt to a new home and a new defensive system, moving to defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ scheme.
Clark called the move a “blessing,” saying the Cowboys are going to get a “dog, somebody that is just all about football.”
“It’s great,” he added. “It’s a historic franchise. I would want no other thing than to be sitting here.”
Why Did the Cowboys Trade for Kenny Clark?
While Parsons’ departure noticeably weakens the Cowboys’ pass rush, the 6-foot-3, 314-pound Clark is a welcomed upgrade at defensive tackle. Mazi Smith, a 2023 first-rounder, underwhelmed in the preseason.
Clark prides himself on being versatile, though he primarily sees himself as a nose tackle.
“That’s my bread-and-butter,” Clark said, via NFL.com. “I can slide out to three in pass rushing situations or whatever the case may be, but wherever they put me, I’m going to make plays.”
Clark had a career-high 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2023.
He will face his old team when the Cowboys host the Packers in primetime in Week 4.
Douglas Bonjour is a breaking news contributor covering the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy. He is also a contributing writer for The Associated Press and has worked for Point Spreads, the Connecticut Post and Hearst Connecticut Media as a reporter and editor. More about Douglas Bonjour
