It’s not unusual for the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys to be involved in a trade for a defensive lineman.
Monday’s trade wasn’t nearly as notable as last year’s deal that sent Micah Parsons to Green Bay. But former first-round pick Rashan Gary is on the move, going from the Packers to the Cowboys for a fourth-round 2027 pick according to ESPN.
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Here are the grades for the trade:
Cowboys get some DL depth
Gary had a good run for the Packers after he was the 12th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. He had 46.5 sacks over seven seasons.
For the Cowboys, they add another name to a defensive line that should be formidable even with Parsons off to Green Bay. Dallas never really replaced Parsons on the edge, but Gary helps there. He had 7.5 sacks each of the past two seasons. At 277 pounds, Gary also helps against the run. He doesn’t turn 29 years old until December so he should have some good seasons remaining.
Rashan Gary will be on his second NFL team after a trade from Green Bay to Dallas. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
(Lauren Leigh Bacho via Getty Images)
The price to get Gary wasn’t insignificant, though. A fourth-round pick in what should be a deep 2027 draft will be missed. But Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hinted Dallas would be more aggressive this season, and Gary helps now.
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Grade: B-
Packers save money, get a pick
Gary was a good player for the Packers but probably one that wasn’t worth the $96 million, four-year deal he signed in October 2023. That’s why he was a candidate to be cut until the Cowboys offered what should be a fairly valuable fourth-round pick in 2027.
The Packers will take a $17 million dead cap hit with the trade but also free up $11 million in cap space this year, according to Spotrac. Gary’s salaries the next two seasons are $19.5 million this year and $22.5 million in 2027. None of that remaining money is guaranteed.
The Packers were ready to move on from a player who was still productive but not a star, while saving a lot of money over the next two seasons. To also get a fourth-round pick in a good 2027 draft was a nice return, even if the Packers defense takes a bit of a hit right away.
Grade: B