Drafting players is all about decision making, and that’s why extra time and effort is taken to grade the process and situation rather than just the prospect. In the case of Jaishawn Barham, many factors have to be considered before determining the worthiness of the pick at No. 92.
Barham, the Dallas Cowboys’ only Day 2 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, followed a trend the first two Dallas picks started: he was exciting. Barham is considered by some to be an edge prospect like Malachi Lawrence. To others he’s considered an off-ball player who can blitz. To the Cowboys, the only team that matters at this point, it’s the latter category they will try first.
Knowing this allows one to more properly grade the decision-making process. Looking at consensus value, positional and surplus value, team need, scarcity, risk and reward, one can objectively determine how good of a pick Barham really is for the Cowboys.
With such a need at inside linebacker, it matters considerably that the Cowboys intend to use him at their most glaring position of need. It also matters that he’ll be used as a blitzer more than as a full-time edge rusher.
The positional scarcity grade is impacted because alternative options at linebacker were dwindling by the minute. The Cowboys used the trade market to add LB Dee Winters, but Barham was a prospect they targeted regardless of that trade. In many ways, Winters provides the linebacker room the floor while Barham offers the ceiling.
On the consensus board the Michigan rookie fits right where Dallas drafted him. At 6-foot-3, 240-pounds, Barham is a twitched-up athlete who explodes off the snap. If the Cowboys can teach him to read and diagnose, he could be a problem for offenses, but right now he brings risk because he’s a year removed from playing off-ball. On the flip side, because he’s so naturally gifted rushing the passer from the edge, he has a fallback role – a valuable fallback role at that – that mitigates risk. As of today though, it looks like the Cowboys will use Barham similar to how the New York Giants will use Arvell Reese.
As an off-ball linebacker with sideline-to-sideline ability and zone coverage skills, Barham looks like he should contribute right away in the middle of the defense. His pass rush arsenal needs work, but no one can teach explosiveness, and Barham has that. It’s easy to picture him involved in certain sub packages that allow him rush the passer this season. Like Malachi Lawrence who was drafted two rounds early, Barham brings significant upside to the table.
Cowboys final grade for Jaishawn Barham: 8/10
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Scientific pick-grade method says Cowboys drafted good one in Barham
Reporting by Reid D Hanson, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
