It would appear that the Dallas Cowboys understood the assignment. With little margin for error entering the 2026 NFL Draft, Dallas has put forth one heck of a display.
The Cowboys were always going to have a hard time topping Day 1, but Friday night still delivered. What started with a trade for 49ers linebacker Dee Winters ended with a high-upside bet on hybrid Michigan defender Jaishawn Barham at pick No. 92.
Barham isn’t on the same level as the draft’s No. 5 pick, Arvell Reese, but the similarities are easy to spot. Both offer rare versatility with the ability to play off-ball linebacker and rush the passer.
It sounds like the Cowboys have a similar plan for Barham as the New York Giants do for Reese. Per Brian Schottenheimer, the third-round pick will start as an off-ball linebacker and be deployed as an edge rusher in certain packages.
Schottenheimer likened Barham's versatility to Eagles star linebacker Zack Baun, who was drafted as a pass rusher before developing into an All-Pro off-ball linebacker. Christian Parker coached Baun in Philadelphia, so take that for what it's worth.
Brian Schottenheimer said that Jaishawn Barham will start as an off-ball linebacker with the versatility to be deployed as an off-the-edge rusher.
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) April 25, 2026
It sounds like the Dallas Cowboys want Jaishawn Barham to start as an off-ball linebacker
Baun, a former third-round pick himself, is a really interesting comp for Barham. The Cowboys will hope that Barham figures it out sooner than Baun, who didn't become a star until his first year with the Eagles in 2024, but we get the sense that Parker has a similar plan for the former Wolverine.
Have the Cowboys already remade their linebacker room? It sure sounds like it. By trading for Winters and drafting Barham to pair with DeMarvion Overshown, Dallas suddenly has three capable off-ball linebackers.
It's unclear who in that group will wear the green dot. With 27 starts over the last two years, Winters has the most experience. For all we know, Caleb Downs could end up with the green dot. But as far as linebacker is concerned, the room was remade literally overnight.
That isn't to say the Cowboys should be done adding LBs, however. They have three picks in the fourth round, including Nos. 112 and 114. Kyle Louis (Pittsburgh) and Kaleb Elarms-Orr (TCU) are both still available going into Day 3. The latter was a 30-visit with Dallas.
Whatever direction the Cowboys go on Saturday, the linebacker room looks completely different from what it did 24 hours ago.
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