Cowboys upgrade defense in free agency

Why it matters

The Cowboys traded a 2027 late-round pick to the Green Bay Packers for edge rusher Rashan Gary. The 28-year-old Gary has 7.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons. Dallas hopes he will contribute immediately on defense. Williams is returning to Dallas on a one-year, $3 million deal. The former second-round pick in 2022 has spent his entire career in Dallas. In 2025, he played in all 17 games, recording a sack and seven tackles for loss. Some analysts believe Dallas overpaid for Gary, while others suggest the Cowboys wanted to avoid a bidding war in free agency. One analyst gave the Cowboys a B grade for the trade, noting that Gary's numbers could improve with more usage in Dallas. Gary earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2024 and has tallied 46.5 career sacks.

Key numbers

• The Cowboys traded a 2027 late-round pick to the Green Bay Packers for edge rusher Rashan Gary.
• The 28-year-old Gary has 7.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons.
• Williams is returning to Dallas on a one-year, $3 million deal.
• The former second-round pick in 2022 has spent his entire career in Dallas.

What happens next

• Dallas hopes he will contribute immediately on defense.
• One analyst gave the Cowboys a B grade for the trade, noting that Gary's numbers could improve with more usage in Dallas.

Sources

• are upgrading

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