The Dallas Cowboys have garnered plenty of excitement this offseason after acquiring former Green Bay Packers pass rusher Rashan Gary. Since coming to Dallas, Gary has made a strong first impression during OTAs. His leadership, work ethic, and willingness to restructure his contract have all led to the belief that he could become a cornerstone in the Cowboys’ defensive rebuild. But not everyone is buying into the growing hype.
Someone Who Has Seen Rashan Gary Up Close Has a Different Opinion
One voice comes with a forewarning, and it belongs to Terrence Parsons Jr., the brother of former Cowboys player Micah Parsons. Having watched Gary closely during Micah’s time in Green Bay following his trade to the Packers in 2025, Terrence thinks Cowboys fans should lower their expectations before assuming Gary will become the dominant edge rusher many hope he will be.
On Monday, Terrence shared his thoughts on X, “Definitely can stop the run but outside of that y’all gonna (expletive) around and find out 🤣🤣”
The warning stands as different as chalk and cheese to the praise Gary has received since coming to Dallas.
Throughout OTAs, the veteran defender has impressed coaches with his professionalism and leadership, according to numerous reports. Despite still working through rehabilitation, Gary has reportedly spent time studying practice film, mentoring younger teammates, and holding players accountable during workouts. Offensive guard Tyler Smith has even spoken about Gary’s vocal presence and the standards he expects from everyone around him.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator
Gary also agreed to a big financial sacrifice when he joined Dallas. In order to make the trade from Green Bay possible, he accepted a restructured two-year, $32 million contract. The new deal reduced his 2026 salary cap hit to $5.44 million, giving the Cowboys extra flexibility to improve the rest of the roster.
From the organization’s perspective, that is apparently being viewed as a major win. Dallas acquired a former first-round pick for only a 2027 fourth-round draft selection while also creating valuable cap space through Gary’s willingness to rework his contract.
Still, the excitement might have led some observers to overlook concerns that followed Gary throughout his time in Green Bay. While instances of dominance were certainly there, consistent production never followed.
Perhaps the most surprising statistic is that Gary has never recorded a double-digit sack season during his NFL career. For a player drafted in the first round and expected to become a franchise edge defender, that remains a criticism of his play.
His finish to the 2025 season only added to it. Over his final 10 games, including the playoffs, Gary failed to record a single sack. His PFSN EDGE Impact score for the year was 77.7 with a rank of 41 and a C+ grade. For a player expected to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks, disappearing statistically during the most important stretch of the season left many Packers fans frustrated.
Film analysts have also highlighted what they described as inconsistent hustle. Gary was occasionally criticized for giving up on plays, taking snaps off, or failing to chase ball carriers with the same energy shown by elite edge rushers around the league.
PREDICT THE NFL SEASON: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Those comparisons became especially noticeable when paired with someone like Micah Parsons, whose nonstop motor has become a defining trait of his game.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport recently described the move as one of Dallas’ potential “worst-case scenarios” if Gary fails to pan out. With the Cowboys coming off a disappointing 2025 season in which they finished 30th in total defense, the team is counting on its new players. This is where the question of how Gary should actually be viewed as a player.
Much of the excitement surrounding the trade has centered on the idea that he will replace lost pass-rushing production and become the Cowboys’ next defensive star. Cowboys team columnist Mickey Spagnola recently noted that Gary’s playing style more closely resembles former Dallas standout DeMarcus Lawrence than a pure sack artist.
His greatest value comes from setting the edge, controlling the run, and playing physically at the line of scrimmage rather than piling up gaudy sack totals. If Dallas expects Gary to consistently produce 12 or 15 sacks a season, history suggests those expectations may be unrealistic.
But if the Cowboys simply need a tough, disciplined defender who can strengthen one of the league’s weakest run defenses, he could still prove to be a valuable addition.
