The first Monday of free agency has already started with a bang, and a move expected to be a release by the Green Bay Packers ended up being a trade. Edge rusher Rashan Gary was sent to the Dallas Cowboys for a late-round draft pick, reinforcing a position of need for Dallas and giving Gary a fresh start.
The NFL world reacted to the trade, which, from several angles, is curious given the relationship these teams had last offseason. While some considered the move a true heist by Dallas, others questioned the overall negotiating process.
NFL World Reacts to Rashan Gary Trade to Cowboys
In his seven-year NFL career, Gary has gone through ups and downs, with the early years suggesting he could be a bust. In his first two seasons, Gary served primarily in a rotational role behind Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, totaling 7 sacks, but he broke out in 2021 with 9.5 sacks and 16 starts, elevating him to solid status in the league.
“Wait??? A late round pick. That’s a heist,” Brandon Loree of SB Nation wrote. In a way, the value Dallas paid for a player who was once well regarded in the NFL is indeed low, raising the possibility of significant upside if he returns to his best form.
Wait??? A late round pick. That’s a heist.#DallasCowboys. https://t.co/Ob2kcl0Fmy
— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) March 9, 2026
The compensation for the trade was only a fourth-round pick in the 2027 draft, giving the team a year to use the player without losing a single pick in this year’s draft. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker receives a player whose career is currently at a low point, with the mission of fitting him into a new system that could work at a low price.
“Ok DAY 3 pick in 2027 is so much better than 2027 3rd,” Tom Downey wrote on his X account.
Ok DAY 3 pick in 2027 is so much better than 2027 3rd https://t.co/HtVrIWDZtE
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) March 9, 2026
Another point that draws attention is the recent movement involving pass rushers that teams have made. In 2025, just before the start of the season, the teams were involved in the trade that sent Micah Parsons to Green Bay and Kenny Clark to Dallas, a move that was heavily questioned at first.
The Packers and Cowboys can’t stop trading pass rushers to each other https://t.co/eQxqFmgSlt
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) March 9, 2026
Host and former player Pat McAfee joked about the situation that developed over the past week, when Gary was supposedly hacked and posted a farewell message to Green Bay, which was initially believed to signal the player’s release.
“Resend that hackers message to Green Bay @RashanAGary. A wonderful message from a 6’5 275 hacker who will certainly be missed in Green Bay,” McAfee wrote.
From the broader perspective, Dallas and Green Bay have traded their primary pass rushers in two consecutive offseasons, and it is safe to say the Packers came away with the better player in Parsons. Beat writer Ryan Wood highlighted how this trade appears strange when viewed as a whole.
“Cowboys getting Rashan Gary after giving Micah Parsons to the #Packers last summer is…quite a swap,” he wrote.
Cowboys getting Rashan Gary after giving Micah Parsons to the #Packers last summer is…quite a swap. https://t.co/fjMYWlB0zJ
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) March 9, 2026
Essentially, Dallas now has a completely revamped defensive line, with Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku at the edge, and Osa Odighizuwa, Quinnen Williams, and Clark as the main interior players. It is a group that could produce major results for the team as soon as this season, while the team looks to return to the postseason.
