Five years ago, the Cowboys drafted an off-ball linebacker out of the Big Ten and turned him into one of the NFL’s most prolific pass rushers. This year, they’re going for the reverse with Michigan’s Jaishawn Barham. After advertising himself as an edge ahead of the 2026 draft, Barham is moving to inside linebacker in Dallas with plenty of opportunity to be an impact player.
Background
Years in NFL: 0
Acquired by: 2026 3rd-round pick
Barham played off-ball for most of his college career: two seasons as a starter at Maryland and then his junior year with the Wolverines. As a senior, he switch to edge and recorded 10 sacks. That mixed experience was part of his scouting report this past spring, offering versatility to play either role in an increasingly diverse and flexible NFL landscape.
For the Cowboys, undergoing a big transition to a 3-4 defense and also desperately needing help at inside linebacker, Barham was a welcome addition in the late third round. He was selected using the pick that Dallas obtained for trading DT Osa Odighizuwa to the 49ers. After taking Malachi Lawrence in the first round and adding Rashan Gary in free agency, while still having Donovan Ezeiruaku and other pass rushers from last year, Dallas quickly confirmed that Barham would be playing off-ball linebacker for them as a rookie.
Contract Status
Years Left: 4
2026 Cap Hit: $1.24 million
Day 2 picks can quickly become the best bargains on your roster. If they have early success, especially the third-round guys, they can be key roleplayers and even starters for you at fractional cost. Hopefully, Barham gives Dallas that kind of value quickly.
2026 Projections
Role: Backup LB
Roster Chance: 100%
The current plan seems to have veterans DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters as the starters. Barham, Shemar James, and Curtis Robinson are the frontrunners in the backup competition. While a 3-4 scheme limits some of the snaps for inside linebackers, Barham is the early favorite to get the most of any reserve player. And with Winters being on the smaller side, plus Overshown’s medical history, Barham could get heavy rotation on suspected runs to help beef up the defense and reduce their wear and tear.
Don’t think Barham’s pass-rushing skills will be forgotten about. If Christian Parker is going to copy some of Vic Fangio’s style, disguised blitzes and rushers coming from different spots should be prevalent. He’s already drawn comparisons to the Eagles’ Zack Baun, who’s had seven sacks over the last two years playing a versatile role.
However his big plays come, the Cowboys will be happy if Barham is a positive addition. No matter how this summer goes, he’ll be a piece in this year’s defensive puzzle. And if Overshown’s bad luck continues with injuries, Barham may wind up with some pretty big responsibilities early.
Check out our previous player profiles from this series:
