Stephen Jones: “We need their money” in reference to Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 21: Kenny Clark #95 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on prior to an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears at Solider Field on September 21, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s no secret the Dallas Cowboys need to free up some money before they can be spenders in free agency. As it stands today, the Cowboys are over the salary cap by over $24 million. All of that can change with restructures to their bigger contracts in Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Tyler Smith.

More money can also be freed up at defensive tackle by figuring out what to do with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. Stephen Jones spoke to the media at the NFL combine and hinted that it could be a possibility for their two players to have some changes made to their contracts.

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on the impending 2026 cap hits for DT Kenny Clark ($21.5M) and DT Quinnen Williams ($21.6M) and potential extension(s) or restructure(s).

“We’re going to need their room.” pic.twitter.com/Mnr3QUA1nZ

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) February 23, 2026

The Cowboys do have two first-round draft picks that will more than likely be used on defensive players, but adding two rookies to the mix won’t solve all their issues on that side of the ball. Dallas needs players, and that will have to happen through free agency as well.

Stephen Jones said the team “needs their room” when it comes to figuring out the contracts of both players. The front office has spoken highly of Clark and Williams, and how important to the future of what they do. Jones said now that they have an idea of what their defense is going to look like, they are starting to think about “extending guys and who’s gonna be here even past where their contracts state.”

Certainly, the two defensive tackles fit into that category if they can make it work. During Christian Parker’s introductory press conference, it came up that Williams was someone who spoke with him personally as things were being finalized. Schotty said that in the team’s outro meetings with players, Clark’s name came up as a leader teammates looked up to.

A contract extension for both players makes sense for everyone. Not only will it help provide the financial capital needed to make more moves, but it also gives Parker the talent to build his defense around. Dallas seems to be in a negotiating mood right now after getting a deal done with Javonte Williams. Maybe the defensive tackles will be next on the list.