Heading into the Dallas Cowboys' training camp in Oxnard, California, ahead of the 2026 NFL season, Dee Winters was the only player that fans could feel solid about among the team's inside linebackers corps.
A month later, however, he's nearly become forgotten after all of the hype surrounding third-round rookie Jaishawn Barham and due to the fanbase's enduring hopes for DeMarvion Overshown. But when the dust settles after final cuts, Winters will likely still be one of Dallas' defensive starters.
Barham will certainly challenge for the spot, and this group will rotate a bit in Christian Parker's defense. But Winters has been unfairly forgotten in the Dallas linebacker room as the hype train followed other players this summer.
Dee Winters has been a presumed Cowboys starter since his arrival
From late April until now, Winters has been penciled in as one of the starting ILBs. It's always been him and Overshown, with the only questions circling the latter's ability to stay healthy. But that pair, whether in the base 3-4 scheme or in nickel formations, has been treated like the first-teamers.
Granted, that didn't stop many from pining after Bobby Wagner or some other veteran free agent this offseason to bolster the room. But even that idea has now gone cold in light of some recent developments.
Since Barham's hot start to training camp and his dynamic debut last Saturday night against the Arizona Cardinals, things have dramatically shifted in the ILB conversations. It's like Winters doesn't exist anymore.
Now that the third-round rookie is the next Ray Lewis, any hype around Winters' arrival has been lost in the "Barhammer" hyperbole. Talk has turned to Barham being Dallas' best MIKE option and moving Overshown into the more versatile WILL role. That would, of course, bump Winters to a backup spot.
That would still be a key role, mind you. In formations that pulled a third LB onto the field, it would be Winters. When rotating guys out for a breather, Winters would get plenty of snaps. And of course, if a player makes a trip to the medical tent, Winters would be the next man up.
But in just a month, the Cowboys have gone from Winters being the only surefire starter on this roster to now a potential backup. So far, outside of a couple of Cardinals, he's been hit hardest by the Barhammer.
Dee Winters' arrival in Dallas has always been somewhat underrated
Even the way Winters joined the team went a little under the radar. In the middle of last April's draft, early on Friday night, the news broke that Dallas had sent a fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for the four-year veteran.
The Cowboys had enjoyed a great first round in the event, picking up safety Caleb Downs and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence. But with a gaping hole at inside linebacker and zero picks in the second round, Dallas shored things up with the trade.
It was big news in the moment: an experienced player with 27 career starts, and many of them played next to a Hall of Fame candidate in Fred Warner. Winters wasn't expected to be a savior, but he was a quality addition after such dismal outings last year from Jack Sanborn, Kenneth Murray, and others under Matt Eberflus.
But that news was sandwiched between the Thursday night celebration over Caleb Downs and then the rest of the draft. Coincidentally, Dallas' next acquisition was Barham in the third round. At that point, everyone's energy went into analyzing the rest of the draft, the UDFAs, and fans settled right into the groove of typical offseason business, leaving Winters shortchanged in terms of fanfare.
Four months later, Winters is again in the relative shadows of media attention and fan interest. Part of that is because fans just haven't seen him, as he's been getting starter treatment in preseason games. That should continue in Friday's game against the New Orleans Saints, with Barham expected to get at least a good snap share in the finale.
The question now is who gets starter treatment on September 13th in New York?
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