Just a bit over per week stands between the Dallas Cowboys and the beginning of 2026 OTAs. Whereas the offseason has not totally come to an finish, Dallas and the opposite 31 NFL franchises have made virtually all the vital strikes they are going to make earlier than the beginning of coaching camp.
Dallas’ roster appears to be like considerably totally different from what it did at the moment final yr, significantly on the defensive aspect of the ball. With that thought in thoughts, at the moment we proceed our sequence rating the highest 10 gamers on the Cowboys roster for the 2026 season.
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NFL Awards: 1x Professional Bowl (2024)
2025 Recap: Rashan Gary’s 2025 season obtained off to nearly as good a begin as anybody may have imagined. Over the course of the Packers’ first seven video games, the previous first-round choose recorded 26 complete pressures, 13 QB hurries, and 7 sacks. Gary benefited from Inexperienced Bay’s acquisition of All-Professional Micah Parsons initially of the common season, seeing a lot fewer double groups and taking benefit in a giant manner.
Nonetheless, after such a very good begin, Gary was unable to maintain this degree of play for the remainder of the yr. After recording seven sacks within the first seven video games, Gary didn’t file a single sack in Inexperienced Bay’s ultimate 10 video games. The now 28-year-old did file 34 complete pressures, however his cross rush grade dropped to 58.5 over that span, and he was not displaying the explosiveness and playmaking potential he did early on.
After such a disappointing finish to the season, it was pretty evident that Gary’s time in Inexperienced Bay was coming to an finish. With the Packers seeking to transfer the veteran cross rusher, Dallas and Inexperienced Bay made their second commerce in lower than a yr, sending Gary to the Cowboys for a 2027 fourth-round choose.
2026 Preview: If the Cowboys need to have a aggressive protection in 2026, they completely want Rashan Gary to be nearer to the man he was initially of the 2025 marketing campaign, reasonably than the participant we noticed within the ultimate 10 video games. It’s unrealistic to challenge that he’ll be capable of replicate his seven sacks in seven video games manufacturing, however on a roster with not many high quality cross rushers, Gary ought to make a major affect.
Based mostly on their offseason choices, the Cowboys clearly really feel the identical. Dallas did draft cross rusher Malachi Lawrence with one among their first-round picks, however outdoors of that, they didn’t do something of significance to enhance the cross rush group. This resolution, proper or unsuitable, reveals how a lot of an affect they consider Gary could make throughout his first yr in Dallas.
Gary didn’t put a lot good tape on show within the second half final season, however he has proven the power to be an impactful cross rusher over the course of his seven-year profession. As just lately as 2023, Gary had 60+ complete pressures and 10 sacks to go together with a 75 pass-rush grade.
A change of surroundings was clearly wanted for the previous Michigan Wolverine, and getting the 28-year-old enjoying at a excessive degree will probably be one among Christian Parker’s prime priorities for his protection.
Prediction: Rashan Gary replicates his 2023 manufacturing, recording a team-high 11 sacks.
