Trey Hendrickson #91 of the Cincinnati Bengals could still be signed by the Dallas Cowboys.
Getty
Trey Hendrickson #91 of the Cincinnati Bengals could still be signed by the Dallas Cowboys.
The Dallas Cowboys did not bring in Maxx Crosby, of course, opting not to send out two first-round picks in a trade with the Raiders to bring in the star pass-rusher–a price the Ravens were willing to pay. But Dallas got to work on its Plan B this weekend, working with the Packers, the team that gave the Cowboys two first-rounders for Micah Parsons–to add pass-rushing edge Rashan Gary.
The deal gets the Packers off the remainder of Gary’s contract, which is slated for cap hits of $19.5 million in 2026 and $22.5 million in 2027. It’s possible the Cowboys can rework that deal to lower Gary’s cap number, but with free agency looming, it will be sitting on the books for the opening of the process. The Cowboys gave up just a 2027 fourth-round pick for Gary.
And it appears they might not be done. According to Forth Worth Star-Telegram beat writer Nick Harris, the Cowboys are still in the market for another impact pass-rusher.
More Moves Coming After Rashan Gary Trade
Here’s what Harris wrote of the Cowboys’ next move after the Gary pickup:
“FWIW, not expecting Dallas to call it mission accomplished on finding impact EDGEs.”
Which is an interesting notion, because it would mean that the Cowboys will be willing to keep spending on the position despite the fact that the team has plenty of other massive needs–at linebacker, at cornerback, at safety.
Trey Hendrickson Cowboys Rumors Floated
Earlier in the morning, just before news of the Gary trade, there was speculation across social media that the Cowboys were close to signing Trey Hendrickson, the former sack king who struggled with injuries last season. Hendrickson is 31 and a four-time Pro Bowler but was limited by injury last year to 4.0 sacks in seven games.
Hendrickson recorded a league-high 17.5 sacks in 2024, though, and also had 17.5 sacks in 2023.
Earlier, it was reported that it increasingly looks like another potential Cowboys target, edge rusher Jaelan Phillips of the Eagles, was likely to stay put in Philadelphia. Again, the market might be thinning on pass-rushers.
Jerry Jones Trey Hendrickson
GettyJerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys could sign Trey Hendrickson.
Cowboys Vow to Spend in Free Agency
But the Cowboys have, of course, vowed to spend. We will revert to the words spoken by owner Jerry Jones less than two weeks ago at the NFL combine, when he told assembled beat reporters that he is not happy with seven wins in each other last two seasons, and that he is prepared to use restructured deals to create space to help the team now.
Said Jones: “Do I see me ending up spending more money than if you put a perfect picture together that the guy that’s back there looking at the account will say, ‘We don’t have any,’ or, ‘We don’t have enough’? I can see me being aggressive, I can see us being aggressive in free agency.
“I am excited about doing everything we can now to have a better record than we had last year, a better team than we had last year. That’s why we have been doing what we’ve been doing with the coaching staff.
“I would bet that we will spend more money in free agency than we have.”