ESPN Gives Dallas Cowboys A Failing Grade For Rashan Gary Trade; Packers Get An ‘A’
The Dallas Cowboys made a big splash Dallas acquired veteran edge rusher Rashan Gary in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick. While trades often aim to provide mutual benefits, national analysts view this specific exchange through a very different lens. ESPN recently released its official trade grades, awarding the Packers a stellar ‘A’ while handing the Cowboys a dismal ‘D’ grade.
ESPN Gives Dallas Cowboys And Green Bay Packers Very Different Grades
General Manager Brian Gutekunst executed a brilliant piece of roster management to earn top marks from ESPN. Gary signed a highly lucrative $96 million contract extension in 2023, but his production dropped off significantly during the second half of the 2025 season. He failed to record a single sack in his final 11 games. Green Bay faced a tight salary cap situation and likely would have released the veteran edge rusher to balance their books.
Instead of cutting him and walking away empty-handed, the front office worked the phones and managed to extract a valuable mid-round draft pick from a desperate Dallas team. This transaction clears significant immediate salary cap space. ESPN praised the Packers for turning a distressed financial asset into future draft capital. The franchise successfully avoided the sunk cost fallacy, choosing long-term flexibility over a recognizable name whose output no longer matched his paycheck.
A Questionable Decision in Dallas
On the other side of the transaction, Dallas takes on massive financial and on-field risks. ESPN heavily criticized the Cowboys for paying a steep price relative to Gary’s recent performance metrics. Dallas essentially traded a fourth-round pick just for the right to pay Gary nearly $20 million in cash this year, with more non-guaranteed money looming in 2027.
Advanced metrics paint a concerning picture of his current abilities. Despite playing alongside elite defensive talent last season, Gary posted an abysmal 8% pass rush win rate. This number places him in the 18th percentile among all edge rushers. He also managed just a 9% pressure rate. Analysts pointed out that Dallas could have pursued cheaper, more effective free-agent options in the open market instead of absorbing an inflated contract for a player showing clear signs of decline.
Broader Implications for the Cowboys
This trade highlights a frantic urgency within the Dallas front office. The Cowboys need to rebuild their pass rush and find viable solutions for the future. However, acquiring an aging player on a massive contract severely limits their remaining offseason maneuvers.
When you surrender draft capital to take on a burdensome contract, you narrow your margin for error. If Gary cannot return to his pre-injury 2022 form, this trade will hamper the Dallas salary cap for the next two seasons. The Cowboys operate with a win-now mentality, but this specific acquisition forces them to rely on a player who struggled to beat blockers consistently last year.
Clean Books and Future Capital for the Packers
Meanwhile, the Packers emerge from this deal with clean books and extra ammunition for the future. Green Bay can now use their newly created cap space to target younger free agents, fill other roster holes, or extend their core developing players.
The trade proves that smart organizations know exactly when to walk away from a bad contract. The Packers secured a clear strategic victory without compromising their long-term vision. They dealt a declining player to an eager buyer, leaving the Cowboys hoping a change of scenery can somehow revive a struggling defender.
