It still feels like a dream that Caleb Downs is a Dallas Cowboy. According to reporters on the scene at rookie minicamp, Downs has such a good grasp of Christian Parker's playbook that he was already teaching it to his new teammates.
All that said, third-round pick Jaishawn Barham is also generating a healthy serving of buzz. Barham may not be teaching the playbook just yet, but he was a huge winner from rookie camp.
Former Cowboys wide receiver Jesse Holley, now a co-host on the All-City DLLS Cowboys podcast, spoke with Dallas' rookies this week and came away most impressed by Barham.
“…We might have one with Jaishawn Barham… When we were done, about 90 percent of the rookies left the room… Barham stayed for about another 20–25 minutes, asking questions, wanting to know more… Just consistently digging into the conversation of ‘How is it that I can get better?’ I was highly, highly, highly impressed with Jaishawn Barham.”
Dallas Cowboys third-round pick Jaishawn Barham continues to impress
What’s telling is that Holley’s impression of Barham had nothing to do with his play on the field. It stemmed from how he carried himself and his eagerness to learn from former pros who know what it takes to succeed in the league.
Make no mistake: Barham’s play does plenty of talking.
A violent defender, he flies to the football, stacks and sheds blocks with ease, and rarely misses in the open field. He also brings the positional versatility Christian Parker has prioritized since taking over as defensive coordinator.
The Cowboys will start Barham as an off-ball linebacker, which may come as a surprise since he played exclusively on the edge last season at Michigan. However, Barham played 24 games at linebacker over the previous two years and did so at a high level.
Cowboys fans may not love it, but Barham profiles as a lighter version of Giants No. 5 overall pick Arvell Reese. Much like Reese, Barham can rush off the edge, blitz with purpose, and still get the job done at linebacker.
Many draft experts pegged Barham as an EDGE at the next level, while projecting Reese as a linebacker. But why limit either player to one role? Barham may have “LB” next to his name, but his role will be anything but traditional.
It may not click right away for the rookie, but the hype is undeniable. At this point, it would be a letdown if Barham isn't out there making plays in primetime when the Cowboys lock horns with the Giants on Sunday Night Football in Week 1.
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