The Dallas Cowboys were able to infuse their roster with talent through the NFL draft. The bulk of their picks came on the defensive side of the ball, which isn't a surprise based on how they played in 2025.
Of course, there will be several players who make an immediate impact, but that's not the case for everyone. The Cowboys drafted Jaishawn Barham in the third round with the No. 92 overall pick, but the team is feeling him out to see where he fits best. And that should temper his expectations going into the 2026 campaign.
Patience Is Needed for Cowboys OLB Jaishawn Barham
During his time in college with the Michigan Wolverines and Maryland Terrapins, Barham played several positions, including linebacker and edge rusher. The fact that he can play multiple spots is impressive, but the coaching staff needs to find where they think he'll be most effective. And to start things off, defensive coordinator Christian Parker shared that Dallas will have Barham begin his professional career at MIKE linebacker.
""The best thing is you don't have to project it, because you see it. At both Maryland and Michigan, he's playing both spots. He's off the ball, he's playing on the edge, they're playing Ohio State, it's goal line, he's three yards behind the nose and is tracking the football. So you see those different traits. You want to see him off the ball and kind of see how that goes from that transition before you put him anywhere else. You could take advantage of more versatility when he's on that second level than if he's on the edge. But he's certainly capable of playing both. We're going to keep him at MIKE right now and kind of see how that goes.""Christian Parker
This is interesting for sure, but when you look at the depth chart, there's a pathway to playing time at linebacker. At the edge, the Cowboys added Rashan Gary and Malachi Lawrence this offseason, joining Donovan Ezeiruaku and Sam Williams.
But at linebacker, DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters are the clear starters, but there's room for Barham to get playing time over the likes of Shemar James and Marist Liufau. The Athletic's Dane Brugler wrote in his draft guide that, "Barham must improve his discipline and refinement to stay on the field, but he can create disruption based just on his explosiveness and high activity level. He will need a patient coaching staff ready to cultivate his athletic upside."
The part where he says Barham needs a patient coaching staff is ultra important and shows that fans can't expect too much from him on day 1. He has all the tools and traits that make him appealing. He's listed at 6'3" and 251 pounds. Barham is an explosive athlete and is very twitchy for his size.
Over 48 collegiate games, he had 193 total tackles, 23 TFLs, 12 sacks, seven pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. He can develop into a major chess piece for this defense, but he needs time to sharpen his skillset. And fans need to have patience to see him at full force.
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