The Dallas Cowboys' offseason is off and running with a major trade involving a veteran defensive end that can enhance what was one of the worst defenses in football in 2025.

Dallas has agreed to the terms on a trade for Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary. In exchange, the Cowboys are sending the Packers a 2027 fourth-round draft pick.

This, notably, is the second trade between the two iconic franchises in the last two offseasons that involves a pass rusher. After the Cowboys' defense suffered last season following the deal that sent Pro Bowler Micah Parsons to Green Bay, Dallas now sets up new coordinator Christian Parker with an experienced, yet expensive commodity.

Gary, 28, is a seven-year veteran with first-round draft pedigree (picked 12th overall in 2019). He had a down year last year to his standards, but as one of the few candidates comfortably within Dallas' intended price range (Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson are obviously larger commitments), the opportunity was there and the deal got done.

Here's how we grade the transaction and what it means for the Cowboys defense.

Gary is under contract for 2026 and 2027 after he signed a four-year, $96 million contract with Green Bay two years ago. The biggest benefit for Dallas? All of the guaranteed money attached to the deal ($34.6 million) has already been paid out.

Where things get pricey is his current terms. Gary will command a cap hit of $19.5 million in 2026 and $22.5 million the year after - not ideal numbers given what his recent production might suggest.

Expect the Cowboys to work on a restructure or negotiate an extension that keeps Gary for more than two seasons and lessens his cap impact to make things more flexible in 2026.

On the edge, so far the Cowboys' only piece carrying over from 2025 is former rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku, who could emerge as a full-time starter depending on what other moves are made on the D-line.

Gary fits as the starter on the opposite side of a defense he could be familiar with, but Dallas also has free agents Jadeveon Clowney and Dante Fowler to mix in if they are re-signed.

That's a solid foundation, especially with the trio of elite tackles in Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa wreaking the most havoc on the inside.

Add someone like Trey Hendrickson? And all of a sudden things are making a turn, but grabbing Gary is arguably an insurance plan in case Dallas is out-bid for the Bengals star.

Giving up an early Day 3 pick for a player like Gary who underwhelmed a lot of people will be looked at as a con, but the focus is less on the actual pick and more on how Dallas avoided the risk of overpaying for someone else.

Owner and general manager Jerry Jones holds two draft choices in April 23's first round - arguably the most significant pieces of this offseason entirely. Keeping those is one of Dallas' top priorities regarding their assets.

Aiming for a target like Crosby would have been a detrimental punch to this coveted of a chest, whereas this move for Gary is a less-significant selection and the same possibility for an impact performer.

Gary reunites with Clark after the two spent six seasons next to each other with the Packers. Parker also continues the theme of targeting players either he or his new staffers have prior relationships with.

Parker himself was a defensive quality control coach in Green Bay and was reportedly a big part of the organization drafting Gary out of Michigan.

Additionally, Gary has previously worked with Dallas' new pass game coordinator Derrick Ansley and pass rush specialist Brandon Jordan.

Free agency is like the Wild, Wild West, and striking at least some type of deal is benefit enough for a Cowboys defense that greatly needs the services a player like Gary can bring.

If his contract gets worked out and he uses the coaching ties to show an uptick in production in 2026, this move will greatly pay off.