The Dallas Cowboys have secured pass-rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers by trading a 2027 fourth-round draft pick, marking their second consecutive offseason deal with Green Bay. This move follows speculation fueled by Gary’s deleted farewell post, confirming his departure from the Packers.
Impact on Cowboys’ Draft and Salary Cap
With this trade, the Cowboys now have one fewer pick in the 2027 draft, reducing their total selections from seven to six. They already hold the Packers’ 2027 first-round pick, which will be sent to the New York Jets as part of last season’s Quinnen Williams trade. Financially, Gary’s $19.5 million salary cap hit in 2026 will push Dallas’s cap space into a deficit of $20.2 million, intensifying their salary management challenges.
Reinforcing a Weakened Pass Rush After Parsons’ Departure
Last offseason, Dallas traded star edge rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay in exchange for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks. Parsons’ move weakened the Cowboys’ pass rush, with the team ranking in the league’s lower half by recording just 35 sacks in 2025. Gary’s arrival aims to bolster that area, as he has consistently produced 7.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons, accumulating 46.5 sacks throughout his seven-year NFL career.
Gary’s Proven Performance and Packers’ Surprising Decision
Selected 12th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, Gary led the Packers in sacks for two consecutive seasons, 2023 and 2024. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst praised Gary’s talent and contributions earlier this year, describing him as impactful despite a slight drop-off in the latter half of the season.
“He was impactful towards the second half of the season, maybe not as much as he was in the first, but he was impactful,”
Gutekunst said, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.
“And Rashan’s got all the talent in the world, and he’s produced at a high level for us since he’s been here, and we would expect that next year, as well.”
Given these remarks, the Packers’ decision to trade Gary came as an unexpected development.
Looking Ahead: Gary’s Role in the Cowboys’ Future
Now with the Cowboys, Rashan Gary will have the opportunity to strengthen a defense eager to return to playoff contention after missing out in the last two seasons. His proven ability as a pass-rusher could be pivotal in addressing Dallas’s defensive shortcomings and improving their chances in upcoming NFL campaigns.
Specifically: It’s a 2027 4th rounder for Gary. https://t.co/zluVs8L7u0
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2026
