Packers To Trade Rashan Gary To Cowboys
Until today, it remained unclear if the Packers would be moving on from Rashan Gary. The former first-rounder will in fact be playing elsewhere next season, though.
Gary is being traded to the Cowboys, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. A Day 3 pick in the 2027 draft will be heading the other way; NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport clarifies it will be a fourth-round selection. Dallas was a runner-up in the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes, leaving the team to explore other edge rush options. Instead of waiting for free agency to commence, the Cowboys have already swung a deal in that regard.
This agreement will allow for a reunion between Gary and new Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Parker was a defensive quality control coach with Green Bay during Gary’s rookie campaign. A prominent role should await Gary, whose contract runs through 2027. This trade will create just under $11MM in cap savings for the Packers while generating a dead money charge of $17MM.
Gary said his Instagram account was hacked when a goodbye message emerged from it Friday, but rather than being released, the seven-year Packer generated (minimal) trade value. Gary comes over after a season as Micah Parsons‘ edge rush tandem partner but will now rejoin Kenny Clark — the player sent to the Cowboys in the blockbuster Parsons swap — in Dallas.
Two years remain on Gary’s four-year, $96MM contract, and this trade comes after the Cowboys were mentioned as interested in free agents Trey Hendrickson, Jaelan Phillips, Odafe Oweh and Boye Mafe. The Cowboys fielded an abysmal defense and could conceivably add one of those options, but Gary is 28 and fills a need — even if he has not lived up to this $24MM-AAV extension. This marks the second time since August the Cowboys have taken on a Packers deal worth at least $22MM per year. Clark has since come up as an extension candidate, as the Cowboys will look to bring down his 2026 cap number.
After trading Parsons, the Cowboys have 2025 edge rushers Jadeveon Clowney, Sam Williams and Dante Fowler unsigned. The team used a second-round pick on Donovan Ezeiruaku last year and then tragically saw 2024 second-rounder Marshawn Kneeland pass away during the season. More work will need to be done at OLB for the Cowboys, and they will have a player who — despite playing as a 4-3 DE over the past two years — did his best work in a 3-4 scheme.
Gary registered 9.5 sacks in 2021 and nine in 2023, garnering a Green Bay payday. He still combined for 15 sacks over the past two seasons but came up as a name to monitor with regards to a release or trade. The Packers used a 2023 first-round pick on Lukas Van Ness but have not seen that move pay off yet. While Van Ness could see more playing time as a result of Gary’s exit, ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky notes the Packers should be expected to target defensive linemen soon after making two trades — the other sending Colby Wooden to the Colts — that cut into the unit’s depth.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/9/26
Here are today’s tender decisions:
RFAs
Tendered:
- Vikings: LB Ivan Pace
Non-tendered:
- Cowboys: S Juanyeh Thomas
- Ravens: RB Keaton Mitchell
- Titans: CB Darrell Baker Jr.
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Falcons: DL Elijah Garcia
- Patriots: FB/TE Jack Westover
Cowboys To Re-Sign DE Sam Williams
Sam Williams is sticking in Dallas for at least another season. The free agent defensive end is returning to the Cowboys on a one-year deal, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The one-year pact is worth $3MM.
The former second-round pick has spent his entire career in Dallas, although he hasn’t necessarily lived up to his draft stock. He showed flashes while playing a part-time role through his first two years in the NFL, when he tallied 8.5 total sacks. He finished fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2022 after he tallied 22 stops, four sacks, and three fumble recoveries.
There was hope he’d take another step in 2024 following the departures of Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler. However, Williams suffered a torn ACL during that year’s training camp, ending his season before it even began.
He was back in time for the start of the 2025 season and got into all 17 games this past year. He didn’t have the same pass-rush ability, but he still finished the year with a sack, seven tackles for loss, and four QB hits. He also got into a career-high 474 defensive snaps.
The Cowboys acquired Rashan Gary to line up opposite Donovan Ezeiruaku, meaning Williams may be hard pressed to work his way into the starting lineup. Still, considering the uncertain status of free agents Jadeveon Clowney and Dante Fowler Jr., there could still be plenty of snaps on the edge for Williams in 2026.
NFL Announces 2026 Compensatory Picks
The NFL has awarded compensatory draft picks for teams in the 2026 draft. Based on an add/subtract formula that covers the 2025 free agency period, comp picks span from Round 3 to Round 7. The higher picks go to the teams that endured the most significant free agent losses.
This year, the NFL awarded 33 comp picks. The comp pick formula assigns picks to franchises who suffered the largest net losses, so teams that signed multiple free agents have a lesser chance of receiving picks.
Sorted by round and by team, here are the league’s 2026 compensatory selections:
By round:
Round 3: Vikings (No. 97), Eagles (98), Steelers (99), Jaguars (100, from Lions*)
Round 4: 49ers (No. 133), Raiders (134), Steelers (135), Saints (136), Eagles (137), 49ers (138), 49ers (139), Jets (140)
Round 5: Ravens (No. 173), Ravens (174), Raiders (175), Chiefs (176), Cowboys (177), Eagles (178), Jets (179), Cowboys (180), Lions (181)
Round 6: Steelers (No. 214), Eagles (215), Steelers (216)
Round 7: Colts (No. 249), Ravens (250), Rams (251), Rams (252), Ravens (253), Colts (254), Packers (255), Bronc0s (256), Broncos (257)
By team:
- Baltimore Ravens: 4
- Philadelphia Eagles: 4
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 4
- San Francisco 49ers: 3
- Dallas Cowboys: 2
- Denver Broncos: 2
- Indianapolis Colts: 2
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2
- Los Angeles Rams: 2
- New York Jets: 2
- Detroit Lions: 1
- Green Bay Packers: 1
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 1
- Kansas City Chiefs: 1
- Minnesota Vikings: 1
- New Orleans Saints: 1
* = awarded for Lions DC Aaron Glenn becoming Jets’ HC
The Bears lost a minority executive to a GM role, with Ian Cunningham taking over in Atlanta. But the NFL will not award Chicago two third-round picks for that hire because the Falcons have Matt Ryan positioned as their president of football. Although Cunningham — Chicago’s assistant GM for four years — holds plenty of organizational say, Ryan is atop its front office hierarchy. The Bears disagree with the NFL’s ruling, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo.
Bears GM Ryan Poles confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin) the team spoke with the NFL about the matter, but the league did not rule in the team’s favor. Had this decision gone the Bears’ way, they would have received third-round picks in the 2026 and ’27 drafts.
Raiders, LB Nakobe Dean Agree To Deal
The Raiders‘ spending spree continues with a linebacker addition. With Las Vegas needing to retool at this position, Nakobe Dean will be asked to be a core performer.
Dean is joining the Raiders on a three-year deal worth $36MM, veteran insider Jordan Schultz tweets. Despite injuries hampering him regularly in Philly, the former third-round pick will score a $12MM AAV. Though, guarantees will be particularly notable on this pact.
Vegas is loading up at linebacker, with Dean being the B-side addition. The team just agreed to terms with Quay Walker as well. This has been a busy day for the AFC West team, which headlined its work with a record-obliterating Tyler Linderbaum contract.
Entering today with more than $120MM in cap space, the Raiders have joined the Titans on a spending spree. The team had no notable holdovers at linebacker, and the Walker-Dean tandem looks set to be the next options under Klint Kubiak. The Cowboys were believed to be eyeing Dean to follow new DC Christian Parker from Philly, but the Raiders had the cap space to outmuscle anyone today. They’re throwing weight around.
Dallas did make a strong push for Dean, according to NFL.com’s Jane Slater. Dean was believed to be on the fence here, with Slater indicating the Cowboys made a good offer. Neither Texas nor Nevada carry a state income tax, but Dean decided to go with the rebuilding Raiders rather than working under Parker — Philly’s DBs coach last season — in Dallas.
Dean essentially redshirted his rookie year, seeing Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards start for the Eagles’ Super Bowl LVII team. Philly gave Dean a starting job in 2023, but foot trouble limited him to five games. A resurgence in 2024 helped the Eagles to the NFC East title and the conference’s No. 2 seed, but a patellar tendon tear in the wild-card round brought another setback. Dean did not debut until Week 6 of this past season, making it a bit surprising the Raiders are signing off on a $12MM-per-year deal.
The Raiders, who lost Robert Spillane in free agency last year, have Devin White, Elandon Roberts and Jamal Adams unsigned. Despite promoting from within at DC (Rob Leonard), Las Vegas is importing some bigger names at LB this offseason.
Raiders To Sign LB Quay Walker
The Raiders are making a major addition to the middle of their defense. They have agreed to a deal with linebacker Quay Walker, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Walker will sign a three-year, $40.5MM contract with $28MM in guarantees, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The Cowboys were among the teams in the mix for Walker before he reached an agreement with the Raiders, Todd Archer of ESPN relays. Walker had a Zoom meeting with the Cowboys on Monday, but they could not fend off the Raiders for the 25-year-old.
Walker, the 22nd pick in the 2022 draft, served as a full-time starter in Green Bay throughout his four-year run there. The former Georgia Bulldog opened his career with three straight 100-tackle seasons, during which he combined for 6.5 sacks. The Packers still declined Walker’s fifth-year option for 2026 last spring, though it did not come as a surprise. The league controversially groups middle and outside LBs together for valuation purposes. Teams typically turn down the option for middle linebackers, as the Jaguars (Devin Lloyd) also did last year.
Playing what proved to be his last Packers season in 2025, Walker collected a career-high 128 tackles in 14 games. He added eight TFL, a personal-best seven QB hits, five passes defensed and 2.5 sacks. Despite quality production, Pro Football Focus took a harsh view of Walker’s 2025 in ranking his performance 76th among 88 qualifiers at his position.
In heading to Las Vegas, Walker will reunite with former Georgia teammate Nakobe Dean. After spending his first four seasons in Philadelphia, Dean agreed to a three-year, $36MM pact with the Raiders on Monday. Walker and Dean starred in college as part of Georgia’s linebacker corps, especially during a national title-winning campaign in 2021. They will reunite in a remade Raiders LB group. Devin White, Elandon Roberts and Jamal Adams were Las Vegas’ top LBs last year, but all three are now unsigned.
While the Raiders traded superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby to the Ravens last week, they have since made several noteworthy investments to improve a roster that finished last in 2025. Before bringing in Walker and Dean, the Raiders acquired nickel cornerback Taron Johnson from the Bills, re-signed corner Eric Stokes, and reached free agent agreements with center Tyler Linderbaum, defensive end Kwity Paye and receiver Jalen Nailor.
Cowboys To Sign S Jalen Thompson
Jalen Thompson emerged as a name to watch regarding the Cowboys on Monday. The veteran safety is indeed heading to Dallas.
ESPN’s Todd Archer recently reported the Cowboys were in contact with Thompson. A deal has now been struck, according to Ian Rapoport and Jane Slater of NFL Network. This will be a three-year contract worth up to $36MM.
This deal will provide $22MM guaranteed over its first two seasons, according to ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano, with OverTheCap listing its base value at $33MM. Dallas is guaranteeing Thompson’s 2027 salary ($8MM), providing the longtime Cardinals starter some security.
A modern-day rarity as a supplemental draft choice that panned out, Thompson was a regular Cards starter for the past five seasons. The Budda Baker sidekick helped Arizona form one of the NFL’s top safety tandems. With Baker on two near-top-market contracts during Thompson’s time in the desert, the latter played out a three-year extension worth $36MM. This will represent a pay cut of sorts due to inflation, as the cap resided at $208MM when the Cardinals extended Thompson (it is at $301.2MM now).
Thompson is only entering an age-28 season. As we’ve seen numerous times in recent years, players are agreeing to shorter-term deals in hopes of cashing in again after cap spikes. Pro Football Focus graded Thompson between 26th and 36th among safeties over the past three seasons. He has not intercepted a pass since 2023, but he nabbed four that season. Thompson also has two 100-plus-tackle seasons on his resume.
The Cowboys have not re-signed Donovan Wilson, and Malik Hooker surfaced recently as a cut candidate. It looks like Hooker will be staying, as the former first-rounder agreed to a restructure earlier Monday. Markquese Bell remains on Dallas’ roster as well. Thompson’s contract will make him Dallas’ top safety priority, representing a change after all those seasons playing alongside Baker in Arizona.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Cowboys Agree To Restructured Deal With T Terence Steele
Speculation about Terence Steele‘s Cowboys future can be put to rest. The veteran offensive tackle has worked out a restructure, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report.
As a result of today’s agreement, Steele will collect $22MM fully guaranteed. This new pact carries a base value of $33MM and can top out at $36MM. In need of financial flexibility, the Cowboys will create $13MM in cap space for 2026 as a result of Steele’s new contract.
Steele’s original pact called for $48.5MM in total earnings, but it was largely in doubt if he would rake in much of that figure. Little in the way of guaranteed money remained, leading to questions about a trade or release. Instead, Steele will move forward with another new Dallas commitment.
The 2020 UDFA is now one of the Cowboys longest-tenured players. The Texas Tech product has been in the starting lineup since his rookie campaign, and he hasn’t missed a regular season start since the 2022 campaign. Pro Football Focus has recently graded him as a middle-of-the-road offensive tackle, including a 43rd-place showing (among 81 qualifiers) in 2025.
In another cost-saving move, safety Malik Hooker has also agreed to a restructure. Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS reports Hooker’s pact has been redone to create immediate cap space. That will help Dallas’ needed efforts to make defensive additions this spring. The team has generated $2MM in 2026 savings, ESPN’s Todd Archer notes.
2026 NFL Trades
The modern NFL features four clear trade windows. Early March, the draft, the late-August 53-man roster-setting date and the November deadline reside as the primary points trades occur around the league. As the NFL resides in window No. 1 for 2026, it is a good time to check in on what has already transpired on the market.
Excluding pick-for-pick trades, here are the moves NFL teams have made thus far in 2026:
February 26
- Titans trade DT T’Vondre Sweat to Jets for DE Jermaine Johnson
March 2
- Browns acquire OL Tytus Howard from Texans for No. 141
- Texans obtain RB David Montgomery from Lions for OL Juice Scruggs, No. 128, 2027 seventh-round pick
March 4
- Rams acquire CB Trent McDuffie from Chiefs for Nos. 29, 168, 210, 2027 third-round pick
March 5
- Bills acquire WR D.J. Moore, No. 165 from Bears in exchange for No. 60
March 6
- Bears acquire C Garrett Bradbury from Patriots for 2027 fifth-round pick
- Ravens to land OLB Maxx Crosby from Raiders for No. 14, 2027 first-round pick
Ravens nixed trade March 10, failing Crosby on a physical
March 7
- Packers add LB Zaire Franklin from Colts for DT Colby Wooden
March 8
- Raiders obtain CB Taron Johnson, No. 228 from Bills for No. 182
March 9
- Jets acquire S Minkah Fitzpatrick from Dolphins for No. 238
- Cowboys land OLB Rashan Gary from Packers for 2027 fourth-round pick
- Steelers add WR Michael Pittman Jr., No. 230 from Colts for No. 214
March 10
- Jets acquire QB Geno Smith, No. 228 from Raiders for No. 182
- Texans obtain P Kai Kroeger, 2028 seventh-round pick from Saints for 2028 sixth-rounder
March 11
- Titans add DL Solomon Thomas, No. 225 from Cowboys for No. 218
- 49ers acquire DT Osa Odighizuwa from Cowboys for No. 92
March 16
- Chiefs acquire QB Justin Fields from Jets for 2027 sixth-rounder
March 17
- Broncos land WR Jaylen Waddle, No. 111 from Dolphins for Nos. 30, 94, 130
March 18
- Eagles obtain QB Andy Dalton from Panthers for 2027 seventh-round pick
March 20
- Falcons acquire S Sydney Brown, Nos. 122, 215 from Eagles for Nos. 114, 197
April 7
- Texans land LB Marte Mapu, 2027 seventh-round pick from Patriots for 2027 sixth-rounder
April 10
- Eagles add WR Dontayvion Wicks from Packers for 2026 fifth-round pick, 2027 sixth-rounder
April 17
- Falcons, Jaguars swap DTs Ruke Orhorhoro, Maason Smith
Cowboys Interested In Trey Hendrickson, Jaelan Phillips, Odafe Oweh, Boye Mafe
The Cowboys were among the teams which made a major push to acquire Maxx Crosby. With him no longer on the market, however, Dallas’ attention will now shift to free agency. 
A number of options will be available on the open market. A big-ticket addition would go a long way in helping aid the Cowboys’ pass rush, and depth signings may prove necessary as well. Each of Jadeveon Clowney, Sam Williams, Dante Fowler and Payton Turner are currently on track to reach free agency.
With respect to potential Dallas targets, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Trey Hendrickson remains a pass rusher receiving considerable attention. The Bengals opted to avoid using the franchise tag on Hendrickson, setting him up for a Cincinnati departure. The Cowboys have been mentioned as a logical landing spot in his case, although the 2024 sack champion’s preference may be to sign with the Buccaneers and by doing so remain in Florida.
According to Fowler, the Cowboys also have Jaelan Phillips, Odafe Oweh and Boye Mafe on their radar. Phillips is the only pass rusher ranked ahead of Hendrickson on PFR’s Top 50 Free Agent list. He is a candidate to remain in place with the Eagles after being acquired from Miami at the trade deadline. Otherwise, a strong market will be in store for the former first-rounder. Phillips only played 12 games between the 2023 and ’24 seasons, but a full slate this past campaign will help ease durability concerns in his case.
Oweh was also dealt in the middle of the 2025 season. He thrived upon arrival with the Chargers, racking up 7.5 sacks in 12 games. Los Angeles is interested in keeping the 27-year-old on a new deal, although fellow edge rusher Khalil Mack was re-signed yesterday. That certainly suggests Oweh will at least explore his options once the negotiating window opens tomorrow.
Mafe saw his Seahawks workload reduced during their Super Bowl campaign. That points to a departure, although coming off a season with just two sacks his market will likely not be as strong as some of the other pass rushers in position to land a new contract. Mafe would be a strong scheme fit for Dallas, with the team changing to a 3-4 base under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
The Cowboys recently took the expected route of restructuring several contracts. That moved Dallas into cap compliance but there is still work to be done to generate the funds needed for an active free agent period. If a major splash is to be made on the open market, one of the top edge rushers will likely be the target.