Cowboys land linebacker Damone Clark in 5th round

The Dallas Cowboys selected LSU linebacker Damone Clark in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, No. 176 overall.

Clark is expected to miss the 2022 season after undergoing spinal fusion surgery. He's expected to compete for snaps on defense once he recovers.

Scouting profile: Damone Clark

Clark is our ninth-rated linebacker, but that speaks more to his medical uncertainty than his play. He underwent spinal fusion surgery in March, which is expected to wipe out his entire rookie season. Only time will tell if that affects his on-field play, but a club could have a real steal on its hands if he can return to the same level prior to the injury. Put simply, Clark treats every down like it's his last. He hits like a truck, but he's got the acceleration of a Ferrari engine.