Cowboys Cut Ties With Former 17-Game Starter
The Dallas Cowboys are continuing to shake up their defense in whatever ways they possibly can — trades, bringing back players from injuries or, now, even cutting lose former starters.
The Cowboys parted ways with former 17-game starter and inside linebacker Damone Clark on Tuesday, November 18, just one day after a 33-16 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football in which the defense looked competent for the first time this season, and with Clark out of the lineup.
Clark was one of 3 players released by the Cowboys on November 18 along with center Wesley French and tight end John Stephens.
Clark was in his fifth season with the Cowboys, who drafted him in the fifth round (No. 176 overall) out of LSU in the 2022 NFL draft. He started 26 games in his time in Dallas, including all 17 regular-season games in 2023, when he had a career high 109 tackles.
Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer sent Clark away with an encouraging message, which was probably cold comfort for the 25-year-old free agent.
“I told him your career is just getting started,” Schottenheimer told Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News. “Sometimes change is good. I really believe that. It’s not bull (expletive) … he means a lot to me and this gives Damone a chance to find a new home.”
LB Additions Market Corrected Clark
The Cowboys had the 31st ranked defense in the NFL headed into Week 11 and you could make an argument that no position group on the entire roster was worse than inside linebacker.
All of that changed over the last few weeks, which ultimately led to Clark getting his walking papers.
First, the Cowboys traded a 2026 seventh round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for inside linebacker Logan Wilson.
“A deal for Dallas: Cowboys are finalizing a trade to acquire Bengals MLB Logan Wilson, sources tell me and Todd Archer,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on November 4. “Earlier Monday, Jerry Jones told Stephen A. Smith that the Cowboys have made a trade ahead of Tuesday’s NFL deadline. It is expected to be for Wilson, for whom the Bengals have been seeking a sixth-round pick. Wilson signed four-year $36 million extension in July 2023 that still has two years remaining on it after this season.”
Then, the Cowboys brought heralded inside linebacker DeMarvion Overshown off of injured reserve ahead of schedule. Overshown, who missed his entire rookie season in 2023 with a torn ACL, had a breakout season in 2024 before tearing his ACL, MCL and PCL in Week 14 against the Bengals.
Overshown wasn’t expected back until a Thanksgiving Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead he was on the field for the win over the Raiders, making 1 TFL loss in a limited amount of snaps.
With Kenneth Murray Jr., rookie Shemar James and Marist Liufau essentially a 3-headed inside linebacker at the third spot along Overshown and Wilson, the Cowboys now, suddenly, seem like they’re on solid ground.
Moving forward, don’t be surprised to see James take Murray’s spot as the starter alongside Wilson and Overshown.
Brian Schottenheimer gives strong endorsement for Cowboys extending George Pickens
In need of more firepower on offense, the Dallas Cowboys made a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers to bring in wide receiver George Pickens.
A former star at Georgia, Pickens has always had the talent to be a superstar, but seemed to get in his own way while with the Steelers. Once he arrived in Dallas, however, Pickens seemed to be a different person.
He was thrilled with the new opportunity and relished the chance to work with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. He's made the most of the opportunity as well, recording 58 receptions for 908 yards and a career high seven touchdowns through the first 10 games.
Now, the only question surrounding Pickens is whether he will sign an extension with Dallas. If it was up to head coach Brian Schottenheimer, that would happen. Schottenheimer was asked about keeping GP3 long-term, and said he was "very in favor" of that happening.
"Sign me up. ...I love the firepower that (he and CeeDee) give us. I pinch myself at times (calling plays). … I’m very in favor of George having a long term future with us in Dallas."
George Pickens is having a career year, set to break the bank
Pickens previous best season was in 2023, when he had 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns. All three were career highs for him and while he's already surpassed the touchdown total, he's set to best the rest of those numbers as well.
That means he's going to be able to demand a massive pay increase this offseason as he's set for free agency.
Reports suggest the Cowboys could use the franchise tag to buy themselves time, which is likely their best chance of keeping Pickens beyond 2025. If they do allow him to test the open market, chances are high that he could secure a deal that Dallas can't match.
