The Dallas Cowboys appear ready to take on a sizable financial gamble in their latest attempt to strengthen the pass rush. Dallas has acquired Green Bay Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary, a player the Packers were still trying to justify the long-term investment on after handing him a massive extension just two years ago. But, with Jerry Jones already hinting this offseason that he was willing to “borrow from the future” to rebuild the defense, the move now places a significant financial commitment on Dallas’ books.

By acquiring Gary, the Dallas Cowboys are taking on the final two years of his contract, which carries a combined value of roughly $42 million over the 2026 and 2027 seasons. To understand why the $42 million figure matters, it helps to look at how Gary’s current deal is structured.

After finishing his rookie contract, the Packers first exercised the fifth-year option on his deal in 2022. Then, ahead of the 2023 season, Green Bay rewarded him with a four-year, $90 million extension following a productive campaign in which he recorded 32 combined tackles and six sacks.

That extension still had two seasons left on it when the trade was agreed to. Gary was scheduled to earn $19.5 million in 2026 and potentially another $22.5 million in 2027. When combined, those remaining obligations total roughly $42 million in salary commitments that Dallas will now assume.

Gary has spent his entire career in Green Bay. But the 2025 season seemed to create some tension between the two sides.  Now, however, he is leaving with two years remaining on that contract. For the Packers, moving the deal comes with its own financial consequences.

Because the trade transfers Gary’s remaining salary to Dallas but leaves previously paid bonuses on Green Bay’s books, the Packers will absorb $17.042 million in dead money on their salary cap.

The 28-year-old was set to earn $19.5 million in the 2026 season, with a cap hit of $28.021 million. By moving on from him, the Packers will take on $17.042 million in dead money. At the same time, the move opens up $10.9 million in cap space for 2026 and roughly $31 million in 2027.

Since this is a trade, the Packers can’t use a post-June 1 designation. It means the remaining financial impact hits their salary cap immediately.

For Dallas, however, the $42 million figure is not a single-season burden. Instead, it reflects the total salary tied to Gary across the next two years. The Cowboys will first take on his $19.5 million base salary in 2026, which notably is not guaranteed. The remaining financial commitment comes in 2027, when Gary is due a potential $22.5 million in cash compensation.

Because most of the guaranteed money was already paid by Green Bay, Dallas is essentially acquiring Gary on a “pay-as-you-go” structure. In practical terms, that gives the Cowboys flexibility. They can keep him if he performs well or move on later without taking on massive cap penalties.

That flexible structure also helps explain why Dallas was comfortable making the move in the first place.

Why did Jerry Jones trade for Rashan Gary?

“The only way to push more is for me to go borrow some of my future. Expect me to go borrow some of my future… want to do everything we possibly can to stop somebody and to basically win some third downs more than we did last year. So I think that would be the area that you would see me bust the budget.” Jerry Jones made it clear last month that he was willing to spend future capital on the defense during the NFL Scouting Combine.

Fast forward to now, and the Cowboys have done exactly that. Dallas has sent a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Packers in exchange for Rashan Gary.

Gary’s arrival in Dallas essentially fills the Cowboys’ need at edge rusher, a hole that opened up after the franchise traded Micah Parsons to Green Bay.

The 28-year-old defensive end spent all seven seasons of his career with the Packers. During that stretch, he recorded 46.5 sacks and 271 combined tackles, while also earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2024. In 2025, Gary started 15 games and finished with 7.5 sacks, 20 quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.

Still, the 2025 season reportedly brought some tension between Gary and the Packers. Reports suggested that, despite Gary never recording fewer than five sacks in any of the last six seasons, the team was not fully satisfied with his production relative to the size of his contract.

Now, he gets a fresh start in Dallas.

Gary will also reunite with former Packers teammate Kenny Clark, adding another familiar presence to the Cowboys’ defensive front. More importantly, his arrival gives Dallas immediate help in the pass-rush department.

For Gary, it’s a new chapter after seven years in Green Bay. For the Cowboys, it’s another step in what has clearly become a major defensive rebuild.