Cowboys Land Edge Rusher Rashan Gary in Trade with Packers

Dallas sends 2027 fourth-round pick to Green Bay for former Pro Bowler

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Dallas Cowboys have finalized a trade to acquire edge rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers. The deal will send a 2027 fourth-round draft pick to Green Bay in exchange for the 28-year-old former Pro Bowler. Gary will join a Cowboys defense that ranked 22nd in sacks last season and looks to bolster their pass rush ahead of the 2026 NFL free agency period.

Why it matters

The addition of Rashan Gary provides a much-needed boost to the Cowboys' pass rush as they aim to improve on a defense that struggled to generate consistent pressure in 2025. Gary's reunion with former Packers teammate Kenny Clark also creates an intriguing pairing on the Cowboys' defensive line. This trade comes after Dallas missed out on a deal for Raiders star Maxx Crosby, making Gary's acquisition an important move to address a key need.

The details

In the trade, the Cowboys will send a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Packers in exchange for Gary. The 28-year-old edge rusher is coming off a 2025 season where he recorded 45 tackles, 7.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup. At 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds, Gary has the size and athleticism to be an impactful player on the Cowboys' defense. The trade also reunites Gary with former Packers teammate Kenny Clark, who was acquired by Dallas in a separate trade last year.

  • The trade was finalized on Monday, March 9, 2026.
  • The official start of the 2026 NFL trading period and free agency is set for Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

The players

Rashan Gary

A 28-year-old edge rusher who was a 2019 first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers. He has battled injuries but shown flashes of dominance, recording 45 tackles, 7.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup in 2025.

Kenny Clark

A defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys who was previously Rashan Gary's teammate on the Packers.

Micah Parsons

A linebacker who the Cowboys traded to the Packers six months ago as part of a deal that netted Dallas defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

Christian Parker

The Cowboys' new defensive coordinator, who previously worked as a defensive quality control coach in Green Bay when Rashan Gary was drafted in 2019.

Jerry Jones

The owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys, who recently discussed the team's plans to restructure contracts to create salary cap space.

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What they’re saying

“We'll make the adjustments that you'd think we'd make and spread that out so we can get the players that we want to get, or that we'd like to get...So yeah, it won't end up that much counting this year as counting tonight.”

— Jerry Jones, Owner and General Manager, Dallas Cowboys (Dallas Express)

“We got a coach in his second year. We had some ups and downs and shined some good moments last year. This is the year that you make a big jump, and getting big time players who can help immediately is a part of that.”

— Dak Prescott, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys (Dallas Express)

What’s next

The trade for Rashan Gary cannot be officially completed until the start of the 2026 NFL trading period and free agency on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

The takeaway

The Cowboys' acquisition of Rashan Gary represents a significant move to bolster their pass rush and defensive line ahead of the 2026 season. By adding the former Pro Bowler, Dallas is positioning itself to take a big step forward on the defensive side of the ball and compete for a deep playoff run.