Dallas Cowboys Bolster Defense with Rashan Gary Trade Ahead of Negotiating Period
The Dallas Cowboys made a bold move by trading for Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers ahead of the two-day negotiating period. This acquisition, confirmed by CBS Sports' lead NFL insider Jonathan Jones, involves a fourth-round draft pick in 2027 sent to Green Bay. Originally slated for release, Gary now joins the Cowboys, reuniting with former teammate Kenny Clark and new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, who coached him during his rookie year in 2019. Gary is set to earn base salaries of $18 million in 2026 and $21 million in 2027, though these figures are not guaranteed, as reported by Over the Cap. Throughout his seven-year career, Gary has recorded: 46.5 sacks 46 tackles for loss 111 quarterback hits In 2025, he achieved a 13.8% pressure rate, ranking 49th among 271 players with at least 100 pass-rushing attempts, marking an improvement from 11.9% in 2024, but a decline from his peak performance of 18.5% and 19.9% in 2021 and 2022 respectively. While Gary is currently regarded as a stronger run defender than a pass rusher, he will provide depth in a position where the Cowboys have pressing needs, with only Donovan Ezeiruaku and James Houston under contract for 2025. As Dallas prepares for the 2026 season, they will likely seek further enhancements to their edge rushing corps. On the flip side, the Packers gain a mid-round draft pick for a player they were expected to release, absorbing $17 million in dead money while freeing up approximately $11 million in cap space, a crucial maneuver as they were just $9.7 million under the cap prior to the trade.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-03-09