The Cowboys’ interior linebacker group is one of the most interesting spots to watch when training camp opens, and the reason starts with how much has changed around it.
Dallas moved on from Matt Eberflus and brought in Christian Parker, who has already reshaped the defense by switching the team to a base 3-4. That change matters for the linebackers. Their responsibilities are broader now, and the setup also does a better job of protecting a group that was a clear weak point a year ago.
The front office didn’t leave the position alone, either. Dallas used a fifth-round pick to bring in Dee Winters, then spent its third-round pick on Jaishawn Barham. Winters could end up as the top backer in the group, but Barham is the name that jumps off the page.
Barham brings the kind of profile teams dream on. He’s listed at 6’3”, 240 lbs., and he has the size to handle work inside while also offering the flexibility to line up on the edge. Some teams viewed him as an edge rusher during the draft, but Dallas has him at interior linebacker for now, and the expectation is that he’ll be used as a movable piece all over the field.
What makes him especially intriguing is the burst. He can slip past blockers, he plays with a high motor, and that combination should make him stand out once camp gets rolling. It also points to a clear path for Dallas to get him on the field early and often.
That’s why Barham feels like the player most likely to shape this group’s ceiling. The Cowboys should lean on him in pass-rush and blitz packages more than the other interior linebackers, and with his college background rushing the passer, there’s a real expectation that he can make an impact there right away.
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Cowboys May Already Be Losing Faith In Their Latest QB2 Fix
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Howell brings more experience and a financial commitment that could help him stick on the active roster, while Milton is still trying to show he can be more accurate and consistent. His preseason work last year left room for doubt, and if that does not change quickly, the Cowboys may have to decide whether he is better suited for the practice squad than for the role they hoped he could fill. [Read more 🡒]