The Dallas Cowboys have made a trade by sending the No.152 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for their linebacker Dee Winters, in the middle of Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Cowboys had a glaring need at the linebacker position, and by bringing in Winters with a base salary of $3.67M, the team has made a low-risk, high-reward move in reshaping the defense.

In the Dallas Cowboys' press conference after the trade, Brian Schottenheimer said, “Couldn’t be more thrilled with the addition of Dee Winters." 

“This is the guy we have been watching for a while. He has got 17 starts, rare speed and athleticism, and adds a veteran force in that room, which is great."

Winters recorded a total of 155 tackles (99 solo), 8 tackles for loss, and 10 passes defended across 47 games and three NFL seasons.

He had the best campaign in 2025, starting all 17 games, and recording 101 tackles (67 solo), 5 passes defended with the San Francisco 49ers.

That standout season earned him the Hazeltine Iron Man Award - the 49ers' honour given to the team’s most courageous player voted by the defensive coaches.

Dee Winters can be a dependable addition to the fellow Texan DeMarvion Overshown and Shemar James in the defense unit under the new scheme of the defensive coordinator Christian Parker, according to Patrick Walker of DallasCowboys.com 

The 49ers have made a logical call by trading Winters now rather than letting him go in free agency in 2027, and they ended up getting a fifth-round pick (No. 152) from the Cowboys.

Schottenheimer also spoke about their Day 2 pick of Michigan's Jaishawn Barham during the post-draft conference on the second day of the draft.

Brian Schottenheimer Backs Cowboys’ No. 92 Pick, Jaishawn Barham

The Dallas Cowboys also made another move to meet the defense roster gaps on the second day of the draft, drafting Michigan Wolverines edge rusher Jaishawn Barham.

Schottenheimer said during the second day of the post-draft conference, "And you know I think you look at what we got with Jaishawn - a piece of his play both on the ball with Michigan, off the ball with Michigan, and at Maryland.”

“We think the versatility with him is going to be something that causes major problems for the people that we're playing,” he added.

Schottenheimer stated Jaishawn's 'physicality jumping off the tape', backing their pick of the Michigan edge rusher.

Per Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com, Schottenheimer intends to line Barham up at inside linebacker, deploying him closer to the middle of the field.

And if paired alongside Winters and Overshown, this gives the Cowboys a linebacker room that looks nothing like the one that struggled through 2025.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Kalp Thaker