Pick up the phone to Jerry Jones, and good things happen.
Just 193 days ago, the Green Bay Packers effectively stole Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys, sending two first-rounders and Kenny Clark in exchange. It's a deal that looks better by the day for the Packers.
Now, Brian Gutekunst has made another trade with Jones, reportedly sending pass-rusher Rashan Gary to the Cowboys for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Gary was considered a cut candidate. Landing any draft compensation would've been a major win for the Packers, but a fourth-round pick is truly another heist.
Packers have landed another one-sided trade with the Cowboys for Rashan Gary
The Packers had to move on from Gary due to his skyrocketing $28 million cap hit and underwhelming 2025 season. Despite making a promising start with 7.5 sacks in the eight games after the Parsons trade, he finished with zero sacks in the final nine games and barely made an impact.
After Gary's since-deleted goodbye message to Green Bay over the weekend, it seemed inevitable that the Packers would have to release him. Surely no team would take on the remainder of his contract and trade draft picks? Not for a player about to get released, right?
Here comes Jerry Jones to save the day.
Honestly, the Packers probably would've taken a seventh-round pick. Just like the Jaire Alexander situation last summer, anything is better than outright releasing him. But Jones felt even more generous, handing Green Bay a fourth-rounder.
Keep up to date with every notable Packers free-agency move here.
That's not insignificant. Former fourth-rounders for the Packers include: David Bakhtiari, Zach Tom, Romeo Doubs, Evan Williams, Mike Daniels, T.J. Lang, and Josh Sitton. The list goes on.
The Packers will pay $17 million in dead cap, but crucially, they save $11 million this year and $31 million in 2027. On top of that, they receive a free fourth-round draft choice.
Factor in the potential 2027 compensatory picks the Packers could receive for losing Malik Willis and Rasheed Walker (both could net third-rounders), and they could end up with a ton of extra draft capital next year, even without their first-round choice.
Gary may get back to his best with the Cowboys. That's what Jones is banking on. But handing over a fourth-round pick and taking on the remainder of Gary's contract is a risk.
Any draft pick would've made this a win for the Packers, but the fact that they're receiving a fourth-rounder is truly remarkable business. Thankfully, it seems, Jones didn't see Gary's farewell message before it got deleted.
Gutekunst has done it again.