The Dallas Cowboys are borrowing a lot from the future to keep the recently traded Rashan Gary on their team in 2026. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Cowboys got Gary to rework his deal into a two-year, $32 million contract ($16 million per year), slightly below the $18 million that he was set to make in cash in 2026. In exchange for a $6 million pay cut over two years, Gary got $16 million guaranteed as a backstop.
The x factor here is that Dallas added SIX void years to the two-year deal, meaning that on paper his signing bonus is spread over the cap through the 2030 season, and that if the team touches his contract again in 2027, it can be spread through 2031. Any money kicked into the future will accelerate to their cap as soon as the Cowboys choose to move on from him.
While Gary will only count $5.4 million against Dallas’ cap in 2026, he will earn $17.8 million to $18.8 million (depending on how many games he’s active for this year), which means up to 71 percent of his 2026 cash flow is being put on a salary cap credit card.
Mind you, Gary had no remaining guarantees left on his deal after his trade from the Packers. The Cowboys elected to turn Gary’s extremely flexible contract, if things didn’t go right in 2026, into a massive bet that his value will surpass his scheduled money.
This is the type of move that teams make when they believe they’re a true contender with a closing window. Good luck to them.