The Cowboys were expected to have to wait most of Friday night to get in on the action, but that didn't end up being the case. While teams with picks were conducting the second round, the Cowboys traded their 5th round pick (152nd overall) to acquire linebacker Dee Winters from the 49ers. Over the course of 17 games, Winters recorded 107 tackles (67 of which were solo), eight tackles for loss, and one interception.
He has the potential to be a starter alongside DeMarvion Overshown.Many fans anticipated the team would consider drafting a cornerback with their third rounder, but the team went right back to the inside linebacker position, in a sense. The Cowboys chose Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham with the No. 92 overall selection. OverviewBarham possesses experience at both edge and linebacker positions.
During the post press conference, Dallas Cowboys reporter Tommy Yarrish asked head coach Brian Schottenheimer about Barham's position, to which he responded, "We're gonna try him at inside linebacker first. We love the physicality he plays with."What does Barham bring to Cowboys When watching Barham's film, his physicality sticks out. At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, his quick get off allows him to cover ground quickly, and he can chase plays sideline-to-sideline.
Also, Barham can drop into coverage or rush the passer. Last year he had 10 tackles for loss and 4 sacks for the Wolverines. He shows high football instincts to diagnose plays and react quickly.
He is effective in reading screens, misdirection, and blocking schemes. As a linebacker/EDGE hybrid, Barham has shown flashes of good run defense, especially when used as a run blitzer or setting the edge. He is physical and aggressive at the point of attack, which is crucial for stopping outside runs or containing ball carriers on the edge.
These skills can be a perfect fit for him at inside linebacker in Christian Parker's scheme fit.What Barham needs to improveBarham exhibits a physical playing style. However his aggressive approach resulted in challenges in 2025, including the failure to make 24 tackles due to errors and poor judgment. His excessive enthusiasm at times also led to penalties, such as late hits and holding infractions.
His struggle to maintain consistent gap discipline, especially at the edge, permitted opposing running backs to break containment and take advantage of open lanes. Although his energy and capacity to disrupt plays are indisputable, these problems sometimes diminish his positive contributions to the defense. Should he improve his tackling technique, decision-making, and gap responsibilities, Barham has the potential to evolve into a comprehensive, high-impact linebacker.This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Scouting Report: Where Cowboys LB Jaishawn Barham wins, where to improve