Cowboys' key piece in Micah Parsons deal now top trade deadline candidate

Jerry Jones' bold move to trade Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers has left many questioning the team's defensive strategy. Now, with just days remaining before the NFL trade deadline, Cowboys coach Jerry Jones is facing a new challenge: getting value out of his latest acquisition, Kenny Clark.

According to ESPN's Bill Barnwell, Clark is now considered a top trade candidate for Dallas, citing his recent struggles on defense as the main reason. A three-time Pro Bowler, most recently in 2023, Clark has seen his performance dip significantly this year, ranking as a below-average interior defender and struggling with run defense.

Clark's success on the pass rush side of the ball is somewhat mitigating his overall impact on the team's defense. While he's accounted for 23 pressures, 19 hurries, and two sacks this season, these statistics don't necessarily translate to improved defensive performance due to the unit's injuries and porous play.

Meanwhile, Dallas is struggling mightily defensively, ranking 31st in the league in yards allowed per game and points scored against. With Parsons gone, the team has been searching for an edge-rusher replacement, but so far hasn't landed a major prize. The Cowboys' interest in Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Las Vegas Raiders pass-rusher Maxx Crosby remains unresolved.

As the trade deadline looms closer, Jerry Jones will need to get creative if he wants to salvage what's left of his 2023-24 season. Will Kenny Clark prove to be the key piece in helping Dallas turn things around? Only time will tell.

omg i'm freaking out over this trade news!!! jerry jones is a genius or something lol but seriously clark's struggles are def a major concern for the cowboys right now, they really need someone to step up on dline ASAP... kenny clark's stats are kinda misleading tho, all those pressures and hurries aren't translating to wins i'm still holding out hope they can pull off a trade for trey hendrickson or maxx crosby, that would give 'em the edge they need... but clark? idk man

I gotta say, Jerry Jones is playing some crazy poker with trade deadline looming . First Parsons goes out, now they're trying to make a big move with Clark . Like, what's the plan here? They need an edge-rusher bad and yet they're still looking around for one . I'm not convinced that Clark is gonna be the magic solution, tbh . He had some great seasons in the past, but now he's just average . And what about the injuries? Like, did Jones even consider that might happen? . Guess we'll have to wait and see if he can pull off this trade and turn things around

idk about this move by jerry jones ... i mean clark is still a beast on the pass rush side of the ball, but defense isn't just about that one aspect of his game ... what's going on with the injuries on dallas' team tho? if they're gonna try to turn it around, maybe they should've focused on addressing those issues first

idk about this trade move lol ... Micah Parsons was supposed to be the one who saved their defense, not Kenny Clark. Clark's numbers are decent but its just a small part of the bigger picture. their whole defense is trash right now . Jones needs to find someone with real game-changer potential, like Hendrickson or Crosby, instead of holding out hope that Clark will magically turn things around

man... jerry jones is like the ultimate risk-taker lol just traded away micah Parsons and now he's trying to make a deal for kenny clark but clark's defense has been pretty meh this season, especially on the run side of things i don't know if clark is gonna be the magic solution for the cowboys' defense issues... they still need some real pass rushers on that team

I'm low-key worried about this trade move from Jerry Jones... Like, I get it, they need some upgrades on D, but trading Parsons and now maybe even Clark? That's a big hit for their defense . Clark might have had his moments last season, but with the team's injuries and all, he's not exactly lighting it up this year . And meanwhile, Parsons is gone, so now they're scrambling to find another edge-rusher... This trade deadline is gonna be a wild ride! The thing that bothers me tho is how Jerry Jones always seems to prioritize short-term gains over long-term strategy. Is he really trying to turn things around or just make some noise before the playoffs?

just thinkin...

imagine the Cowboys' defense as a puzzle
Parsons is one big piece that's now gone
and they're tryin to find another similar piece to fit the gap

but what if Kenny Clark is like a 3D puzzle ?
he can provide some depth, but his struggles are showin'
on the pass rush side, he's bringin' some heat
but when it comes to run defense, it's all about the team effort

so Jerry Jones needs to be like a master builder
findin' ways to get value outta Clark without breakin' the bank
or maybe they need to think outside the box
trade for Hendrickson or Crosby, and see what happens ?

only time will tell if Dallas can turn it around

[Image of a disappointed football player with a red X through it]

[ GIF of a coach looking worried, with a "deer in headlights" expression ]

[Image of Kenny Clark with a " trade me" sign over his head]

The problem with the Cowboys is they never rebuild, just revamp . They're trying to replace Parsons but it's like searching for a needle in a haystack. A few decent trades and they'll be back where they started . Clark might not be the answer either, been hearing that for years now . Dallas needs a complete overhaul, not just a few tweaks .

idk why jerry jones thinks clark is gonna save him i mean clark's had some good seasons but this year he's been straight up garbage and even though he's getting some pressure on the QB he's not doing anything about it. like what can you expect from a guy who's supposed to be an elite defender but ends up being below avg? the cowboys need someone with actual impact, not just stats. they should just hold out for trey hendrickson or maxx crosby i don't get why jerry wouldn't do that

idk how jones can expect clark to flip their defense on its head, seems like they're just trying to patch up holes instead of making actual changes

and what's with the drama over trey hendrickson and maxx crosby? it feels like the cowboys are all over these pass-rushers, can't make a decision already

"Believe you can and you're halfway there." It's all about confidence now for Jerry Jones, gotta trust that Kenny Clark is gonna spark a defensive revival in Big D!

I'm thinking of this trade like a Venn diagram : Cowboys need pass rusher, but Clark's performance is below average...
On one side, you got Parsons gone and Dallas struggling defensively. They need someone to step up.
On the other side, you got Clark's stats, but they don't add up due to injuries & play style.
It's like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole...
Maybe Kenny Clark can prove himself?
Or maybe Jerry Jones should consider another option...

I drew a little diagram to show how this situation is like trying to solve a puzzle

Cowboys' defense is like a broken piece of a jigsaw
Missing some crucial parts ( Parsons, edge-rusher)
Clark comes in but struggles a bit
Pass rush stats are nice but don't fill the gap
Dallas needs to find another key piece
Trade deadline looms and Jones needs a plan
Will it be Hendrickson or Crosby?

I'm loving the drama unfolding at AT&T Stadium right now! Jerry Jones is like, "Hey, I'll just swap out Parsons for Clark and we're golden!" Meanwhile, the rest of us are over here watching Dallas get carved up on defense . Clark's not looking so hot this season, but hey, a fresh start might do him some good . The question is, can Jones make another bold move to turn things around? Maybe he should try out that Hendrickson guy from the Bengals or Crosby from Las Vegas? Either way, it's gonna be an interesting few days leading up to the trade deadline !

man I'm like totally confused about this move by Jerry Jones ... trade away Micah Parsons and now he's trying to make a deal for Kenny Clark? isn't that just gonna be another interior defender problem ? the cowboys are already having a tough time on defense, ranking 31st in yards allowed per game... I mean I get it, they need an edge-rusher or something, but can't they just go out and sign someone instead of trying to make a trade that's not gonna work out?

OMG I'M SO CONFUSED ABOUT THIS TRADE MOVE BY JERRY JONES!! HE'S TRYING TO GET SOME VALUE OUT OF KENNY CLARK BUT CLARK'S DEFENSIVE GAME IS TRULY AHEAD OF HIMSELF!!! THE GUY HAS BEEN A 3-TIME PRO BOWLER IN THE PAST BUT THIS YEAR'S BEEN A COMPLETE DISASTER! AND NOW JERRY'S EXPECTING US TO BELIEVE HE CAN TURN IT AROUND? THE COWBOYS ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING DEFENSIVELY AND PARSONS WAS LIKE THE ONLY GUY TRYING TO SAVE THEM!!!

omg I'm so confused about this move by Jerry Jones he thinks trading Parsons for Clark is gonna fix everything, but what if it just makes things worse? their defense is already last in the league lol what's next?

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."