Dee Winters may not be the loudest new name in Dallas, but he arrives with a real chance to matter right away. The Cowboys traded for the linebacker back in April, and with inside linebacker still a glaring need at that point in the draft, the move gave them a proven option instead of forcing them to wait and hope.
Winters comes to Dallas after building up a bigger role with the 49ers. A sixth-round pick in 2023 out of TCU, he initially made San Francisco’s 53-man roster as a depth linebacker who did most of his work on special teams.
His second season brought a bigger workload, including 10 starts after veteran Dre Greenlaw was sidelined by injury. That year, Pro Football Focus gave him strong marks, highlighted by a sixth-best ranking among linebackers in pass coverage.
Last season, Winters was pushed into a full-time starting job alongside All-Pro Fred Warner. PFF had him 46th overall among off-ball linebackers, with his best work still coming in coverage, where he ranked 29th. His grades dropped after Warner went down with a season-ending injury in Week 6, and Winters had to take on more responsibility in the defense.
Dallas sent one of its multiple fifth-round picks the following day to land him, a move that came after the team had already added safety Caleb Down and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence but still had not solved the linebacker spot. Now Winters is in line for a major role in 2026.
The contract situation makes the bet even more interesting. Winters has one year left, and his 2026 cap hit sits at $3.67 million.
Because of the extra playing time he logged over the last two seasons, his final year on his rookie deal has climbed thanks to performance-based-pay escalators. For Dallas, that still looks like a bargain if he becomes the full-time starter they’re counting on.
The expectation is clear: Winters is projected as a starting ILB and has a 100% roster chance. But he is not being asked to be the defense’s traffic cop.
DeMarvion Overshown is first in line for the green dot, while Winters is expected to do his best work as a nickel linebacker and as a WILL in other looks. He’s undersized, and coverage is where he has stood out most.
Even with that starting label, his snap count may not translate into 17 starts. Jaishawn Barham, Shemar James, and other young options could see more work in early-down packages, especially when the Cowboys want to stiffen against the run. Still, with nickel now the league’s default and Dallas headed that way in 2026, Winters should be on the field plenty.
There’s also a bit of uncertainty around how the linebacker room settles before camp. Winters and Overshown may be the top two options now, but that could change if Dallas adds a veteran free agent. Much will depend on how the group fits into Christian Parker’s scheme and who can stay healthy.
Starting fresh with a new team in a contract year isn’t the easiest setup, but Winters has a clear opening in Dallas. If he adjusts quickly and helps the Cowboys move on from Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray, he could end up being one of the more useful additions to the defense.
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