"Gary is expected to provide solid edge play against the run while sprinkling in some decent pass rush. Thompson is a versatile safety who will play multiple roles in Christian Parker's defense. Earlier this week we asked you to grade these acquisitions."
"For Gary, the overwhelming majority ended up giving the trade a 'B' grade. That tracks. Gary has always been consistent, but never really great. There is no doubt he will help the defense, but he's not going to elevate the defensive line play to new levels."
"As for the Jalen Thompson deal, fans were much more enthusiastic. While the winning grade was still 'B' with 51%, the grade of 'A' was given by 36% of respondents. That's trending in the right direction. Thompson is seen as a key acquisition to make the backend of Parker's defense work correctly."
The Dallas Cowboys made two significant multi-year acquisitions early in free agency: edge rusher Rashan Gary through trade and safety Jalen Thompson through free agency. Both players are expected to be starters for the 2026 season. Gary will provide consistent edge play against the run with moderate pass rush ability. Thompson is a versatile safety who will fill multiple roles in Christian Parker's defensive scheme. Fan grades reflected measured optimism: Gary received predominantly B grades (71%), with 29% giving C grades, indicating some fans wanted more impact. Thompson generated stronger enthusiasm with 51% B grades and 36% A grades, suggesting fans view him as more critical to the defense's success. Both acquisitions appear to represent solid, if not spectacular, defensive improvements.
#dallas-cowboys-free-agency #rashan-gary-trade #jalen-thompson-acquisition #nfl-defensive-acquisitions #fan-grades
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