When the Dallas Cowboys acquired edge rusher Rashan Gary this offseason, you wouldn't have known they upgraded their defensive front given the fan reaction. This was seemingly a player the Green Bay Packers were prepared to release, yet Jerry Jones still gave them a 2027 fourth-round pick to take him off their hands and, more importantly, beat everyone else to the punch before he hit the open market.
It seems a bit weird for a fanbase that had to watch one of the worst defenses (and defensive lines) in football to complain about adding a Pro Bowl-caliber pass-rusher, but beggars can't be choosers. Micah Parsons is gone, and the Cowboys had to do something--even if not everyone agrees with the rationale. Then again, this is why we don't let Twitter fans run NFL front offices.
However, for all of the doubts that Gary has faced this offseason, he's already started to silence some. He was a consistent performer during training camp, and that momentum should continue as Dallas heads to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football this week.
Rashan Gary can prove the Cowboys right for acquiring him in Week 1
As far as the opener goes, facing the Giants is an advantageous matchup for the 28-year-old. He's accrued 24 sacks across the last three seasons and 39.5 across the last five, so getting to the quarterback won't be the issue, and this is the ultimate opportunity to do what he was brought in for.
Outside of Andrew Thomas, Big Blue's offensive line is full of holes. John Michael Schmitz is injured and woefully unproductive, Jeremaine Eluemunor is pretty penalty-prone, Francis Mauigoa is making his NFL debut, and Gary is plenty familiar with his former teammate Jon Runyan Jr. On paper, that's four matchup wins out of five starting linemen.
The nice part is that the Cowboys' pass rush as a whole is much improved, so it's no guarantee that Gary will face Thomas 1-on-1. It could be Malachi Lawrence. It could be Donovan Ezeiruaku, and even Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams will give these edge rushers a better opportunity to win against the Giants' OL. It's going to be a pick-your-poison situation, and the Michigan product is bound to capitalize.
Getting to Jaxson Dart should be fairly easy for Gary and this defensive line. They'll be able to generate more pressure than in years past, so against an offensive line that lacks star power, they're at an advantage. And that is quietly offering him a golden opportunity to shine in his Cowboys debut.
Rashan Gary may not be the answer to all of the Dallas Cowboys' problems on defense, but the path to this trade aging beautifully starts on Sunday.
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