Cowboys trade for ex-TCU linebacker, then grab Big Ten LB on Day 2 of draft
After a “surgical” first day in the 2026 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys, they are set to be put back on the clock once on Friday night at No. 92 overall in the third round.
However, because of their good fortunes on night one, they have ample draft capital in the later rounds to potentially move into the third round with another selection.
With Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence in the bag from the first round, they could look to add more to the defensive side of the ball or beef up depth on the offensive side.
Stay locked in throughout the night as the NFL draft powers on with rounds two and three.
Cowboys trade for former TCU linebacker
In a draft day trade on Friday night, the Dallas Cowboys made a surprise trade with the San Francisco 49ers for veteran linebacker Dee Winters, according to multiple sources. In the deal, the Cowboys gave up a fifth-round pick.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled about the addition of Dee Winters,” head coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “This is a guy we’ve been watching play for a while. He’s got 17 starts. Rare speed and athleticism, adds a veteran in that room for us which is great.”
Winters, a former TCU standout, has played three seasons with the 49ers since being drafted in the sixth round in 2023. Over the last two seasons, he has started 27 games while combining for 145 tackles and five pass deflections. In 2025, he had eight tackles for loss and an interception.
Winters starred on the TCU team that made a run to the College Football Playoff national championship game in 2023, as he combined for 246 tackles and 33.5 tackles for loss during his time with the Horned Frogs.
For the Cowboys, he steps into a second level of the defense that badly needs help with just three off-ball linebackers on the roster. Along the way, Dallas keeps its third-round pick on Friday night.
Cowboys select Jaishawn Barham at No. 92
With the No. 92 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Michigan outside linebacker Jaishawn Barham. He was the lone selection of the day for the team.
In two seasons each at Maryland and Michigan, he combined for 119 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. His run defense could immediately step in as a presence off the edge for the Cowboys in the Christian Parker 3-4 defense.
“The versatility is going to be problems for teams that we play,” Schottenheimer said. “We’re going to try him at inside linebacker first. We love the physicality he played with ... We also know we can add him as a rusher on third down in certain situations, and that’s what we love about the guy.”
At 6-foot-3, 243 pounds, Barham steps into a now crowded outside linebacker room where he figures in as one of the better run defenders and as a specialized pass rusher. During the draft process, he made a facility visit, or 30-visit, to the Cowboys’ headquarters in Frisco.
Around the NFL in Rounds 2-3
A player the Cowboys showed interest in during the draft process, Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood, finally came off the board at No. 37 overall in the second round to the NFC East divisional rival New York Giants. Hood had a facility visit with the Cowboys during the pre-draft process and had a formal meeting at the NFL Combine with the team.
Some other players that Dallas looked at in the draft process that have been taken include DE T.J. Parker (Bills), DB Treydan Stukes (Raiders), LB Jacob Rodriguez (Dolphins), LB Josiah Trotter (Buccaneers), CB D’Angelo Ponds (Jets), CB Brandon Cisse (Packers), LB C.J. Allen (Colts), TE Eli Stowers (Eagles) and S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Browns).
Recapping the Cowboys’ first round
On Thursday night, the Cowboys wheeled-and-dealt throughout the night to move up to No. 11 and back to No. 23 to take Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence. Along the way, they picked up two fourth-round picks and somehow walked away with more draft capital than they had going into the night.
- Cowboys ecstatic with ‘surgical’ first round: ‘Having a heart attack in there’
- Who is Caleb Downs? Introducing the Cowboys’ first-round pick
- Who is Malachi Lawrence? Introducing the Cowboys’ second first-round pick
- Cowboys trade twice, take two standout defenders in first round of NFL draft
This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 6:03 PM.
