Spagnola: Gary is Just what the Doctor Ordered

[Acceptablename]

Jerry didn't win the trade. He took less than what he got from GB. 70 cents on the dollar.

Dallas Cowboys are better trading Parsons and making the moves as has turned out. The object is to be better with trading Parsons and acquiring players at positions of need. Mission accomplished

 

[Ironicalicon]

If he's so good, why was he available?

 

[gimmesix]

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/spagnola-gary-just-what-the-doctor-ordered

Nice article by Mickey, and giving some stats as well.

I liked this trade from the start. They have done a great job rebuilding this defense. Coaches and players.
Now let's see it on the field of course. We all know that.

I do agree with Spagnola that Gary will probably be Lawrence-like for us. He might not produce double-digit sacks, but he's going to set the edge as a run defender and get pressure.

The question is whether we have pass rushers to complement what Gary can provide. I do think for once we have an inside presence as a pass rusher in Quinnen. That can help the outside rush tremendously. If someone can consistently get pressure opposite of Gary, then he was a fine pickup. If not, we're a little like Green Bay when the Packers traded for Parsons with Gary on the roster. Gary is a complimentary player who needs to be opposite a stud player.

 

[gimmesix]

All signs and indications they have rebuilt the defense for the better. Anyone that says otherwise, just wants to be negative as usual.

I don't understand this. We've seen nothing yet. All signs are just a bunch of hot air until we actually see the product. I understand that our fans need to have hope, but we won't know if we've built a better defense until we see it. I mean, are the pass rushers we have added (Gary, Lawrence) really any better than the pass rushers we've lost (Clowney, Fowler)? Does trading Odighizuwa and replacing him with cheap rotational players (Ogbonnia, Bullard) make our line better?

I like a lot of what we've brought in, but there are a lot of questions to be answered before we'll know if we've rebuilt the defense for the better and exactly how much better. I mean, going from one of the worst defenses of all time to just one of the worst defenses wouldn't exactly move the needle.

 

[Pass2Run]

If he's so good, why was he available?

So, I'm intrigued by the new additions, Lawrence, Downs, Barham, Gary, another off-season for Overshown, an off-season for Ezeiruaku, Winters, Jalen Thomas..it's basically a new squad.

I think Barham is the biggest surprise of all. The guy is solid.

 

[Pass2Run]

I do agree with Spagnola that Gary will probably be Lawrence-like for us. He might not produce double-digit sacks, but he's going to set the edge as a run defender and get pressure.

The question is whether we have pass rushers to complement what Gary can provide. I do think for once we have an inside presence as a pass rusher in Quinnen. That can help the outside rush tremendously. If someone can consistently get pressure opposite of Gary, then he was a fine pickup. If not, we're a little like Green Bay when the Packers traded for Parsons with Gary on the roster. Gary is a complimentary player who needs to be opposite a stud player.

It's gonna be mediocre, only because CP will have these guys over performing. It didn't have to be that bad last year. It just was. Because Eberflus was so bad.

Overshown having a year more to heal is huge.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/spagnola-gary-just-what-the-doctor-ordered

Nice article by Mickey, and giving some stats as well.

I liked this trade from the start. They have done a great job rebuilding this defense. Coaches and players.
Now let's see it on the field of course. We all know that.

If he's so good, why was he available?

I've read some contradicting opinions, many fans felt Gary was lacking in some respects, pass rush not what it was, not sad about him leaving

 

[beware_d-ware]

We just needed a credible starting DE after Clowney left. I think Gary fits that bill.

The defense will not be good this year... the goal is to get them up off the mat.

 

[Starforever]

Why is it hard to believe that he can play well in Dallas? Many players thrive in new locations. I am counting on him to be a good addition to the defensive side of the ball.

 

[AKATheRake]

Gary is the guy I'm really hoping can rebound and become closer to what he once was with GB, but I'm not getting my hopes up. Maybe he has a DLaw change of scenery type of year, but his pass rush tape has been trending in the wrong direction for several years now.

Pressure rate

• 2022 - 19%
• 2023 - 17.4%
• 2024 - 12.4%
• 2025 - 12.1%

Averate time to pressure

• 2022 - 2.67 seconds
• 2023 - 2.99 seconds
• 2024 - 2.84 seconds
• 2025 - 3.21 seconds

Number of quick pressures (under 3 seconds)

• 2022 - 19
• 2023 - 17
• 2024 - 20
• 2025 - 8

To put it in perspective a guy like Micah Parsons averages (roughly) a 20% pressure rate, 2.70 time to pressure, and 40 quick pressures per season.

Gary's numbers are that of a secondary rusher which is fine, but the downward trend is concerning. I thought he would rebound better last year after getting paired with Micah, but he actually continued his decline.

That’s some darn good insight.

 

[kumizi]

I disliked this trade and nothing the team propagandist says in June is going to change my mind. If he performs on the field, I’ll give him his props and admit I was wrong.

 

[Creeper]

Here’s the net, the way I see it. Please correct me if wrong….

Dallas gives up:

Micah Parsons
2026 second
2027 fourth

Dallas gets:

Quinnen Williams
Kenny Clark
Rashan Gary
Malachi Lawrence
Whoever they would have lost by paying Parsons.

I’m sorry but considering how awful DT was for so long, the proof being getting bashed up the middle by good teams, I make that trade all day, even if Lawrence is only meh. I’ll take the upside.

Honestly that trade was really the base of my renewed enthusiasm, even if we all know that was not what they originally wanted to do.

Dallas gave up Parsons, a 2027 1st, a 2027 4th and a 2026 2nd to get the players they got. You left out the 2027 1st round pick. I strongly recommend waiting until the end of the 2026 season before making any judgements about these trades. The wildly optimistic outlook over Lawrence, Clark and Gary is just that, wildly optimistic.

 

[LouBrown]

Here’s the net, the way I see it. Please correct me if wrong….

Dallas gives up:

Micah Parsons
2026 second
2027 fourth

Dallas gets:

Quinnen Williams
Kenny Clark
Rashan Gary
Malachi Lawrence
Whoever they would have lost by paying Parsons.

I’m sorry but considering how awful DT was for so long, the proof being getting bashed up the middle by good teams, I make that trade all day, even if Lawrence is only meh. I’ll take the upside.

Honestly that trade was really the base of my renewed enthusiasm, even if we all know that was not what they originally wanted to do.

Not that you're the only person I've seen say this, but they haven't saved anything by letting Micah go. The defense is considerably more expensive than just signing him.

They're paying considerably more, by AAV, for Clark, Williams, and Gary, and that's before they give Q a $35-$40m extension. His current cap hit alone is higher than Micah's.

 

[LouBrown]

Dallas Cowboys are better trading Parsons and making the moves as has turned out. The object is to be better with trading Parsons and acquiring players at positions of need. Mission accomplished

They could have acquired Quinnen Williams without trading Parsons and actually improved.

 

[jazzcat22]

Not that you're the only person I've seen say this, but they haven't saved anything by letting Micah go. The defense is considerably more expensive than just signing him.

They're paying considerably more, by AAV, for Clark, Williams, and Gary, and that's before they give Q a $35-$40m extension. His current cap hit alone is higher than Micah's.

Show us the break down of the numbers.
I do not believe they gave Q. Williams an extension.

And do not forget the players they drafted added to the roster.

They are far better off without Micah both roster / team wise and salary cap wise.

 

[LouBrown]

Show us the break down of the numbers.
I do not believe they gave Q. Williams an extension.

And do not forget the players they drafted added to the roster.

They are far better off without Micah both roster / team wise and salary cap wise.

They haven't yet given the, but they will. QW's extension will be in Jeffrey Simmons' range at over $35m.

What breakdown do you want? QW's current cap hit is ~$21m. Micah's is ~$19m.

AAV: Micah - $46.5m.
AAV: QW, Clark = $45.3m. QW, Clark, Gary = $61m.

The roster is not better or did you not watch last year lol. They haven't added anyone they couldn't have added anyway except for Lawrence. They could have signed Micah, traded the same picks for QW, kept Osa, and still drafted Downs.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Show us the break down of the numbers.
I do not believe they gave Q. Williams an extension.

And do not forget the players they drafted added to the roster.

They are far better off without Micah both roster / team wise and salary cap wise.

Qs cap hit alone is higher than Micah’s this year. Q and Clark combined are coming close to $40m. Q is almost certain to get a massive extension at some point too.

The draft capital is almost a moot point. You acquired two premium picks for parson and gave up two premium picks for Q. The only real difference at this point is you get Lawrence instead of whoever you would have taken in round 2. TBD of the 2027 draft would really be affected or not since we gave up the better of our 2 1st rounders. If that pick is GBs it’s a neutral move.

I have no issues with them trading parsons however we need to be real about the swap. Outside of getting Kenny Clark and Lawrence there is no move the cowboys couldn’t have still done with parsons on the roster.

 

[fivetwos]

Dallas gave up Parsons, a 2027 1st, a 2027 4th and a 2026 2nd to get the players they got. You left out the 2027 1st round pick. I strongly recommend waiting until the end of the 2026 season before making any judgements about these trades. The wildly optimistic outlook over Lawrence, Clark and Gary is just that, wildly optimistic.

I did overlook that pick. Well that sorta shifts things a tad in the other direction, no lol? Nice catch.

Still like the deal. Yeah of course there’s a lot TBD on that swap, but I’d still rather have the better players on the inside. Those are tough to find. Yes Parsons is elite, but if your DTs are stout, you can put together a decent rotation for edge, which I believe they have done. The DL as a whole is a much better room than it was 10-11 months ago.

 

[Cowfan75Lives]

I thought Gary would be a dark horse from the start. Also, shut up, Mickey.

 

[jazzcat22]

They haven't yet given the, but they will. QW's extension will be in Jeffrey Simmons' range at over $35m.

What breakdown do you want? QW's current cap hit is ~$21m. Micah's is ~$19m.

AAV: Micah - $46.5m.
AAV: QW, Clark = $45.3m. QW, Clark, Gary = $61m.

The roster is not better or did you not watch last year lol. They haven't added anyone they couldn't have added anyway except for Lawrence. They could have signed Micah, traded the same picks for QW, kept Osa, and still drafted Downs.

That does not make them any better than what they are now.
Fans say need to see it on the field. So your theory they would be better is just that, a theory and an opinion.

Majority feels they are better off now. And the biggest reason. They got beat character players, like 6 of them over ONE loud mouth player. That disappeared in December and the playoffs.
Who will now miss half the 2026 season.

Can you imagine this place, if he was signed to an average of $7 million a year, and then got injured. Knowing what they could have got in the trade.

And for Clark and Williams contracts, they can and will be restructured.