Cowboys Acquire Packers Pass Rusher Rashan Gary in Trade

Dallas looks to rebuild defense after trading away star linebacker Micah Parsons

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Dallas Cowboys have traded for veteran pass rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers. Gary, a former first-round pick, will join the Cowboys' defense as they look to rebuild after trading away star linebacker Micah Parsons to the Packers before the 2025 season. The trade sends Gary to Dallas in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick.

Why it matters

The Cowboys are looking to retool their defense after the high-profile trade of Parsons, one of the league's top defensive players. Acquiring Gary, a solid edge rusher, is part of their effort to rebuild the pass rush and find new impact players to lead their 3-4 defensive scheme under new coordinator Christian Parker.

The details

Rashan Gary, the 12th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has spent his entire career with the Packers. He made the Pro Bowl in 2024 after recording 7.5 sacks, matching his career-high total from the previous season. In 106 career games, Gary has 46.5 sacks. The Cowboys are hoping he can be a disruptive force opposite whichever top free agent edge rusher they are able to sign, with the Bengals' Trey Hendrickson being a rumored target.

  • The Cowboys traded linebacker Micah Parsons to the Packers before the start of the 2025 NFL season.
  • The Cowboys acquired Rashan Gary from the Packers on March 9, 2026.

The players

Rashan Gary

A former first-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2019, Rashan Gary has developed into a solid edge rusher, making the Pro Bowl in 2024 after recording 7.5 sacks.

Micah Parsons

An All-Pro linebacker, Micah Parsons was traded by the Cowboys to the Packers before the 2025 season as Dallas looked to rebuild its defense.

Christian Parker

The new defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, who is implementing a 3-4 defensive scheme.

Trey Hendrickson

A top free agent edge rusher, the Bengals' Trey Hendrickson is rumored to be a target for the Cowboys as they look to rebuild their pass rush.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Rashan Gary is a good get, but he is only one smart part of the solution in trying to once again develop a strong edge pass rush minus Parsons.”

— Vinnie Iyer, NFL Writer (Sporting News)

What’s next

The Cowboys are still expected to be suitors for the Bengals' Trey Hendrickson, the top overall free agent on the market. A combination of Hendrickson and Gary would be quite a foundation for the Cowboys' new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.

The takeaway

The Cowboys are making calculated moves to rebuild their defense after the high-profile trade of star linebacker Micah Parsons. Acquiring Rashan Gary is a solid step, but the team will likely need to add another top-tier edge rusher, such as Trey Hendrickson, to truly replace Parsons' impact on their defense.