Getty
Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Rashan Gary.
The Dallas Cowboys wanted Maxx Crosby. They ended up with Rashan Gary.
Next, they wanted Gary to take a pay cut.
In a move that will benefit the Cowboys in the immediate future and, possibly, Gary in the long run, the newly-acquired edge rusher agreed to a pretty hefty pay cut with his new team by signing a 2-year, $32 million restructured contract on Monday — he was due $42 million before signing the new deal.
“New Cowboys edge Rashan Gary agreed to a pay cut as part of the trade from Green Bay, dropping his compensation to $16 million each of the next two seasons,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on his official X account. “Dallas also added an option and void years, lowering Gary’s cap number to $5.44M this season and $8.24M in 2027.Gary had been due $19.5 million this season and $22.5M in 2027, with no guaranteed money. Most of his 2026 compensation is now guaranteed, including a $13.2M signing bonus.”
After failing to acquire Crosby in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Cowboys traded a 2027 4th round pick to the Packers in exchange for Gary, a Pro Bowler and former 1st round pick.
The Cowboys cut the deal just hours before the start of NFL free agency on March 9.
“Trade: the Green Bay Packers are finalizing a deal that would send DT Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a late-round 2027 draft pick, per ESPN sources,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Monday morning. “New Cowboys’ DC Christian Parker was in Green Bay as a defensive quality control coach when Rashan Gary was drafted in 2019.”
Rashan Gary Could Still Have Elite Upside
Gary, 6-foot-5 and 277 pounds, was the No. 12 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft and earned his lone Pro Bowl selection in 2024. He’s had at least 7.5 sacks each of the last 3 seasons.
On the Friday before he was traded, Gary posted and then deleted a “goodbye” post to the Packers on his Instagram account.
“This is a big piece,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on March 9. “… the Green Bay Packers and Cowboys were in talks the last 24 hours, figuring out the right price for the Cowboys to get a big-time pass rusher. He certainly didn’t play up to his capabilities last year. The Cowboys continue to buy low ahead of free agency, just like they did last year. They’ve been in the edge market trying to sign 1 … and I wouldn’t be surprised, actually, if they sign 2 edge rushers.”
Gary has struggled to live up to expectations after he signed a 4-year, $96 million contract extension in October 2023 — midway through a season in which he had a career-high 9.0 sacks.
Cowboys-Packers Link Up For 2nd Blockbuster Trade
For the 2nd year in a row, the Cowboys and Packers connected for a blockbuster trade involving an elite edge rusher.
In August 2025, the Packers traded their 2026 and 2027 1st round picks along with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to the Cowboys in exchange for NFL All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons.
The day the Packers traded for Parsons was also probably the day Gary realized the end of his time in Green Bay was near — especially after Parsons signed a 4-year, $188 million contract extension the day of the trade.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
More Heavy on Cowboys
Loading more stories