There are so many newcomers on the Dallas Cowboys that it's hard to pinpoint who will have the biggest impact. First-round pick Caleb Downs would probably be the most popular pick, but Jalen Thompson, Rashan Gary, Cobie Durant, and Malachi Lawrence shouldn't be slept on.
While Thompson is recovering from a pec strain, Gary, Durant, and Lawrence all earned positive feedback during OTAs, which concluded this week.
The Cowboys gave Thompson a big contract by their standards, but they have even more riding on Gary, whom they acquired for a fourth-round pick and now pay $16 million per year after reworking his contract.
Former Cowboys scout Bryan Broaddus, now with 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, has been impressed by what he's seen on the practice field from the former Packers first-round pick.
"... That guy's pretty quick. When you're talking about getting off the ball, there were some drills and stuff that they were doing, it was slap the hands, get around, and then attack the quarterback arm. He's one of these guys where you're like, 'Oh, okay, I see.' ... He's got a little more pass rush skill than you think. ..."
New Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Rashan Gary living up to the hype at OTAs
With quarterbacks wearing the red non-contact jerseys at OTAs, projecting sacks is a fool's errand. While defensive line play can be difficult to evaluate in these settings, a player's get-off is easy to spot. And according to Broaddus, Gary's has been quicker than advertised.
There was a common misconception when Dallas traded for Gary that he was some sort of world-beating pass rusher. That's never really been his game. An outstanding edge-setter, he's arguably even more impactful against the run than he is rushing the passer. DeMarcus Lawrence is the better overall player, but the similarities in their games are hard to miss.
Having said that, Gary is a very capable pass rusher. Dating back to 2021, he's averaged 7.9 sacks and 56 pressures per season, per Pro Football Focus. Those marks, while impressive, would be higher, but a knee injury limited him to 9 games in 2022.
Should Gary be a No. 1 pass rusher? Absolutely not, and in Dallas, he doesn't need to be.
Quinnen Williams is the engine of this defensive front. But Gary will also be flanked by second-year pro Donovan Ezeiruaku, who was arguably the best pure pass rusher in the 2025 draft, and first-round pick Malachi Lawrence.
Gary may not be a great player, but his floor is exactly what the Cowboys needed. It's no surprise he looks the part in practice, both as a player and a leader. If anything, the discourse surrounding the trade may have obscured the fact that Dallas landed a quality starter at a premium position.
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