NFL analyst inadvertently shows why Dallas Cowboys’ recent Rashan Gary decision was crucial to make the trade look like a win
The Dallas Cowboys’ biggest addition has often been criticized for the same reason. But things look different now.
The Dallas Cowboys’ trade for EDGE Rashan Gary is the biggest addition they’ve made this offseason. But it’s also their most controversial one yet.
Overall, the feeling on the Gary trade can be summed up as follows: good player, questionable compensation.
Recently, ESPN analyst Ben Solak joined the conversation with his take on the Cowboys’ trade but his criticism of the deal inadvertently shows why the team’s recent decision on Gary makes the deal look like a win.
ESPN lists Gary deal as a ‘head-scratching’ move but…
In an article with many expert reactions to this year’s NFL free agency moves, Solak listed the Cowboys trade as his head-scratching move because of Gary’s cap hits.
“I don’t mind the fit for Gary in the Cowboys’ defense,” Solak wrote. “He’s a bulky edge rusher on a team that needs more run-stuffing power. But the Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick for Gary’s deal, which will average out at a $19.5 million cap hit over the next two seasons.”
But here’s the thing: Those numbers are outdated.
The Cowboys promptly reworked Gary’s deal to lower his average cap hit over the next two seasons to $12 million. In 2026, he will count $5.44 million toward the cap. Specifically, the Cowboys achieved improved numbers by getting Gary to take a $6 million pay cut while adding four void years to spread out a $13.2 signing bonus.
In total, they got $14.1 million in cap savings for 2026.
Now, I don’t think that Solak got the numbers wrong. He’s one of the best NFL analysts out there and there’s a good chance he wrote that before the Cowboys reworked Gary’s deal. But his reaction to the Gary trade inadvertently shows why Dallas’ contract maneuvering changes how we look at the deal.
At first, it seemed like the Cowboys paid too much for a starting-caliber EDGE rusher. Now, it’s more about the player than the financials. And the Cowboys did get a significant upgrade in Gary. Thanks to the reworked contract, trading for Gary looks like an undeniable win.
Gary isn’t the ‘bust the budget’ move, though
To be fair, however, Gary being the biggest addition the Cowboys have made is underwhelming. After all, the front office made a big deal about “busting the budget” earlier in the offseason. This isn’t it.
Ironically, this was more about getting financial control over a player instead of risking overpaying in the open market. Still, this was a solid addition. Now it’s on the Cowboys to do more to rebuild one of the worst defenses in the league.
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