​Nearly six months after Dallas traded an edge rusher to the Packers, Green Bay returned the favor with a separate deal that sent Rashan Gary to Dallas. This move places Gary, who had previously played alongside Micah Parsons in Green Bay, in a new role with the Cowboys as they look to fill the void in their own pass rush.
Gary, who has spent seven seasons in the NFL, was acquired by Dallas via trade in 2026. A highly regarded prospect out of Michigan in 2019, Gary was selected 12th overall by the Packers, marking Matt LaFleur’s first draft pick as Green Bay’s head coach. Despite the high draft status, Gary spent his rookie season as a backup, rotating with Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith. He appeared in every game and notched two sacks. In 2020 his workload increased, including four starts, and his production followed suit. With nearly double the snaps from the previous year, he more than doubled his sack total to five and jumped from three QB hits to 11.
Gary’s third season stands as his best to date: 9.5 sacks, 28 QB hits, and 47 pressures as a full-time starter. Green Bay chose to exercise his fifth-year option, but a torn ACL in November of his fourth year interrupted his momentum. He made a full return and played in all 17 games in 2023, starting 13 and recording nine sacks, a performance that reinforced the Packers’ confidence in him. They rewarded that faith with a four-year, $96 million contract extension ahead of his sixth season. While he may not be a pure double-digit sack artist, Gary’s overall performance at edge rusher in 2024 earned him his first Pro Bowl nod. Even after the Packers added Micah Parsons to the fold in 2025, Gary matched the previous year’s sack total with 7.5 and continued to contribute solidly in run support. However, his production did tail off in the second half of the season, prompting questions about his long-term trajectory.
With Dallas shifting to a 3-4 defense and seeking veteran experience at outside linebacker, the Cowboys reconnected with Green Bay to finalize a trade on March 11. The move provided Green Bay with some cap relief ahead of free agency and cost Dallas a 2027 fourth-round pick. Gary reunites with longtime Packers teammate Kenny Clark and steps into a leadership role on a relatively young Cowboys defense.
Gary entered Dallas with a cap situation that favored a real pay cut rather than a mere restructuring. His annual pay dropped from roughly $24 million to about $16 million, aided by void years to support Dallas’ cap management. The move essentially guarantees Gary’s place on the Cowboys’ roster for the next two seasons, after which Dallas will reassess when he approaches free agency at age 31 in 2028.
Role and roster outlook for the Cowboys are clear: Gary is expected to be a starter at outside linebacker. The Cowboys presently have a variety of pass-rush options, but Gary’s spot is far from tenuous. The top trio is well established: Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and rookie Malachi Lawrence. The competition will then continue to heat up among the next group—James Houston, Sam Williams, Charles Snowden, Marist Liufau, and others—who are all vying for roles and snaps as the team shapes its defensive front for the upcoming season. As always, depth and rotation will be key in a league that demands both high-end rushes and reliable cross-shelf coverage.