The agony of watching valued prospects come off the board was a price the Cowboys had to pay, thanks to the trades for defensive lineman Quinnen Williams and wideout George Pickens. After the long wait from No. 23 to No. 92, Dallas added a versatile defensive piece in linebacker Jaishawn Barham.
The collective groans from Cowboys fans after Dallas took yet another player out of the University of Michigan aren’t like the additions of former Wolverine defensive lineman Taco Charlton or Mazi Smith, both who flamed out with the Cowboys, but more like the selection of cornerback Jourdan Lewis who was also a Cowboys third-round pick out of Michigan.
Barham is a unique, hybrid defender with tremendous upside, who fits in new defensive coordinator’s scheme. While still raw, his addition caps off a strong two-day haul that signals a clear defensive identity shift.
Experts from around the league tend to agree as the Cowboys have received high marks for sticking to their aggressive and defensive-heavy approach, walking away from Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft with momentum firmly on their side.
Sports Illustrated: B+
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Barham started his collegiate career with the Maryland Terrapins before transferring to the Wolverines before the 2024 season. A two-year starter at Michigan, the 240-pounder totaled 98 tackles and five sacks, starting 22 games. While he has some pass-rush juice, Barham might be best in an off-ball role, allowing him to track and pursue the ballcarrier.
CBS Sports: A
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The Cowboys got their pass-downs edge in Round 1 and now they get their run-downs edge in round three. Barham is one of the most physical players in the entire class who loves throwing his body around in the box.
Yahoo Sports: C
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He reminds you of a less athletic version of YaYa Diaby, and not much else. The Cowboys are throwing resources at their pass rush room though, so the fit is obvious.
USA Today: A-
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Is Jerry Jones killing this draft? Barham has some head-turning moments as a pass rusher, even though he’s still finding his way there after primarily operating as an off-ball linebacker. Dallas can bring him along slowly while still tapping into his relentlessness.
The Athletic: B+
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Barham is still a project off the edge, as he played most of his college career as an off-ball linebacker. He’s extremely physical and explosive, though, with good length and speed off the corner. This was a dice roll worth taking for Dallas, as it has time to bring Barham along at the right speed.
The Sporting News: A
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Barham gives the Cowboys additional pass-rush promise beyond Malachi Lawrence with some speed and production. He might be situational at first but he does have some upside vs. the run to start in short order.
SB Nation: B-
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Barham plays with quickness and a high motor. The tools are there, but he needs to develop a complete pass-rushing plan to win consistently in the NFL.
Clutch Points: A
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Jaishawn Barham is a long-armed, explosive, versatile pass rusher. He’s still raw, but there is a lot of tools and talent there. This is a great third-round pick, as he can be a DPR now and potentially develop into an elite edge rusher.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Strong grades for Cowboys’ 3rd-round selection of LB Jaishawn Barham
Reporting by Angel Torres, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
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