The Cowboys had a long wait on Friday night before they finally got another turn at the plate. After picking twice in the first 23 selections during the draft’s first round, they wouldn’t turn in another card until Round 3 was nearly over.
They did pull off a trade for 49ers linebacker Dee Winters and gave up their fifth-round choice to do it, but that move brings the team’s 2026 draft haul down to just six players overall. No room for error; each and every pick needs to turn into a solid contributor.
With the 92nd pick in the draft, the Cowboys have taken Michigan edge rusher Jaishawn Barham.
The Maryland native began his college career with the in-state Terrapins but transferred after his sophomore season. After one season with the Wolverines, he was ranked one of the top linebackers in the country and then moved to edge rusher as a senior in Wink Martindale’s system.
He posted elite speed grades at the combine and showed good explosiveness, coming away with an impressive Relative Athletic Score of 8.83 despite being somewhat undersized. The Cowboys did host Barham on a 30 visit, so defensive coordinator Christian Parker has a good idea of what he’s getting.
Here’s a sampling from various draft profiles about what Barham brings to the Cowboys.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic
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There is a difference between being versatile and a tweener, and Barham is more of the latter, as he lacks the instincts to play off-ball or the size to be an every-down edge. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a role for him at the next level. He wins with speed, physicality and body twitch, although he tends to play in overdrive and often finds himself out of control.
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.
K.C. Martinez, NFL Draft Buzz
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Run defense is the calling card here, full stop. The way Barham attacks down blocks, stacks offensive linemen at the point, and triggers downhill is NFL-ready work, and the tape at Michigan in 2025 is the best evidence of it. He is at his best when a defense can move him around and let him play aggressively, lining him up as a rush linebacker one snap and a hand-down edge the next. Add in real closing burst from the backside and testing numbers that confirm the speed you see on tape, and there is a foundation here to build on.The cleanest fit is an odd-front defense that can deploy him as a strong-side rush linebacker, let him set the edge on early downs, and unleash him as a designed pressure player on obvious passing downs. A coordinator who blitzes from multiple spots can get him running downhill without asking him to win extended one-on-one matchups against NFL tackles. Sub-package work as a stand-up rusher fits the same mold while his hand usage develops.The concerns are real. He is a tweener in the truest sense, without the bulk to hold up every down on the edge or the instincts to play off-ball full time, and the discipline lapses have to be cleaned up before he can be trusted on the field in critical moments. Coverage will keep him on the sideline in some passing situations early. That said, the run defense, positional flexibility, and explosive traits give him a floor as a rotational piece with genuine starter upside if a patient staff develops the pass rush toolbox.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
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Barham logged most of his snaps at off-ball linebacker, but his 2025 tape showed explosiveness that will attract teams seeking a developmental rush ‘backer in an odd front. He’s raw as a rusher, relying heavily on athleticism, but the missing elements are teachable. Whether outside or inside, he’s a professional block-beater with the tools to stack or slip blocks, though his edge-setting needs work. His bend and reactive agility create unlikely tackle chances that few can find. His intensity and motor are top-tier but he needs to play with better discipline to avoid negative snaps. With explosive traits and inside-outside versatility, he projects as an impactful future starter once his technique catches up.
Todd McShay, The Ringer
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Barham is an off-ball linebacker turned edge with intriguing upside thanks to his explosiveness, aggression, and versatility.
His appeal lies in traits that translate to pass rushing. He plays with good hand snap and, more importantly, shows a natural ability to keep advancing his rush while engaged- an essential skill for winning in the NFL. His body control and efficient redirection stand out, allowing him to capitalize on second-effort opportunities when quarterbacks move off their spot.
Against the run, Barham is highly effective for his size (about 240 pounds). He plays with power in his hands, sheds quickly, and consistently finds the football with an aggressive, physical temperament. he even sets a firmer edge than expected, though he can get caught inside or lost in traffic at times.
Barham is supremely gifted but also a major projection.
Pro Football Network
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Jaishawn Barham was a heavily anticipated transfer addition for the Michigan Wolverines in 2024, after accruing 10 TFLs and seven sacks in his first two seasons at Maryland. Barham’s first season at Michigan wasn’t as fruitful as many hoped. He met expectations with his physicality at 6’3″, 248 pounds, but proved hot-and-cold both with his instincts and comfort, both in gap patrol and in coverage.
In 2025, he was utilized in a role closer to that of a full-time EDGE defender and flashed promise in that role, earning double-digit TFLs and four sacks. Once again, situational awareness and discipline proved to be concerns at times, but Barham’s hyper-elite explosion, reactive athleticism, ankle flexibility, and speed-to-power capacity invite excitement for his long-term projection as a pass-rusher. Barham is an explosive, supercharged athlete at his size with awe-inspiring power and pop at contact, which he can use to control blocks and stack-and-shed.
He’s still very raw as a pass-rush operator and lacks a fully fleshed out counter arsenal, and is largely reliant on his physical tools as a result. It may take a year or two for him to ramp up his development, but in the right environment, Barham has the raw tools and the unhinged physical temperament to become a dynamic pass-rush catalyst in odd and hybrid-front schemes, attacking downhill from wider alignments.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Instant Analysis: Scouting reports on new Cowboys EDGE Jaishawn Barham
Reporting by Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
