ESPN slashes Cowboys' Rashan Gary trade with a harsh D+ grade. Did Dallas overpay for a pass rusher facing questions about his recent performance?
The Dallas Cowboys' bust-the-budget free agency period has begun, and the franchise was active on the first day.
Granted, it wasn't in the manner many were hoping, with several key options off the table rather early as big money was thrown around.
We knew Dallas would be alert, and the franchise did make a couple of moves.
The most talked-about one for many was the trade for Green Bay Packers pass-rusher Rashan Gary.
The Cowboys acquired the veteran and sent a 2027 fourth-round pick to Green Bay.
So, what Dallas gave up was neither here nor there, and it got a quality starting player coming back the other way.
The reaction to Gary's trade has been interesting.
Some aren't sold on him as a player, citing that he went downhill last season. Others aren't thrilled with his cap numbers over the coming years. Although Dallas will likely restructure his deal.
Still, some don't think it was a good move for the Cowboys, and one is ESPN's Seth Walder. He gave the move a D+ grade.
“Gary is heading to Dallas to join up with old teammate Kenny Clark and bolster the Cowboys' pass rush in the post-Micah Parsons era," Walder wrote. "Gary, 28, can be a useful player for Dallas. But here's the problem: The Cowboys dealt away a fourth-round pick for the right to pay Gary $19.5 million in cash this year, per OverTheCap (he's owed $22.5 million in non-guaranteed money in 2027).
“And while I'm guessing at contract size here, I'd much rather pay Boye Mafe $21 million than Gary $19.5 million -- even before thinking about adding a draft pick in, too.”
If we are being honest here, the Cowboys were damned if they do, and damned if they don't. If they had gotten Maxx Crosby, many would be screaming overpay and that the Cowboys have lost it.
And if they didn't sign anyone early, people and media personalities alike would say, "See, Jerry didn't mean what he said."
So there is no winning.
But a fourth-round pick next year for the chance at Gary being a good quality starter for Christian Parker, who he has previously worked with? I'll take it.
Yes, the money isn't ideal, but that can be massaged.
But a D+ grade for a pass rusher who has gotten at least 7.5 sacks in each of the last three years?
It's not that bad of a deal, is it?