The Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers have had a storied intraconference rivalry over the last 15 years. Between the matchups featuring Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo as well as Dak Prescott and Jordan Love, there have been plenty of battles between the two franchises.
However, the teams now have at least one more player in common this month than they did last month as the Cowboys are kicking the tires on a new defensive prospect.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero recently took to Twitter/X to report that former Packers defensive end Johnathan Garvin is in the process of working out with the Cowboys.
According to FOX, Garvin recorded 20 tackles and 3.5 sacks with the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL. While these numbers might seem a bit low to the untrained viewer, the UFL season is roughly half as long as the NFL season. As such, he was on pace for 40 tackles and seven sacks had he been given an NFL-length season.
Of course, while the tackles leave plenty of room for improvement, adding seven sacks to a defensive line is always welcome.
Potential Dallas Cowboys addition faces uphill battle to resurrect NFL career
Garvin wasn’t quite that productive when he was in Green Bay.
According to Pro Football Reference, the pass rusher earned just 1.5 sacks in three seasons with the franchise. As such, the Cowboys might be banking on the hope that Garvin fixed whatever was broken during his time in the UFL. If nothing else, he now has recent playoff experience to help bolster the playoff yips facing the franchise.
While he was able to nab a workout, his employment status remains unclear. ESPN’s depth chart does not have Garvin’s name. Dallas may have likely have told the pass rusher to stand by. The Cowboys have proven this offseason that they don’t do anything fast, so they might be weighing their options, even if they haven’t pulled the trigger just yet.
Of course, even if Dallas gave him the job today, all signs point to him getting a league-minimum deal with a need to fight for a roster spot in August.
While his UFL squad saw success on his watch, the entire league is built of sub-practice squad players. Meaning, even the best players from the UFL are unlikely to rank highly in the NFL. Otherwise, they never would have been free to pursue another league in the first place.
That, in combination with his history with the Packers, leaves an uphill climb for Garvin. However, if he can elevate into a success story, it would be quite noteworthy, indeed.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
