After finishing as one of the NFL’s worst defenses in 2025, the Dallas Cowboys overhauled their defensive unit during the offseason. Now, one analyst believes a $3.97 million linebacker acquired from the San Francisco 49ers could become an important piece for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.

Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report believes that the former 49ers linebacker Dee Winters’ experience as a starter could make for a valuable addition to the Cowboys team that finished with a disappointing record of 7-9-1 in 2025. 

"Winters isn't an elite talent, but he was a steady producer for the 49ers last year," Davenport wrote. "He also provides some badly needed stability for a Cowboys linebacker corps that was something of a carousel last year."

Davenport, in the same article, listed Winters as one of the '8 under-the-Radar NFL players set for major roles in 2026.' He was added to the Cowboys LB room in a draft-day trade after his breakout campaign with the Niners as a starter in 2025.

Winters is entering his contract year in the 2026 season with the Cowboys, as he signed a rookie four-year, $3.97 million contract with the Niners in 2023. The contract included a $133,336 signing bonus and an average annual value of $993,334.

Winters recorded 101 tackles (67 solo), eight tackles for loss, and five passes defended for 17 games started in 2025.

According to Richard Paolinelli of Inside the Star, the Cowboys' linebacker room in 2025 was a disaster. He believes the depth behind DeMarvion Overshown was thin, with fewer proven talents like Jack Sanborn, Kenneth Murray, and Logan Wilson.

Winters is expected to compete with the rookie Jaishawn Barham for the depth role behind Overshown, in case of his non-availability due to injuries.

Winters expressed confidence about his fit in the 3-4 scheme of Parker, and his edge in being able to make tackles while he gets the space.

"He wants to get me in space," Winters said, per Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com. "He feels like one of my assets is me being in space and being able to make tackles in space. Just run and hit with my physicality and speed that I bring to the game."

With the Cowboys preparing multiple players to handle key responsibilities, Winters could emerge as an important piece of the Cowboys' linebacker corps in 2026.

Dee Winters could elevate the Cowboys' linebacker room

According to Yarrish of the Dallas Cowboys.com, Winters could get some practice wearing the green dot and as the MIKE linebacker, though he has played as a weakside LB.

"Winters' best traits are his speed and ability to cover ground sideline to sideline, which could work very well if he plays alongside DeMarvion Overshown, who is aiming to be Dallas' MIKE linebacker this season," Yarrish wrote in the same DallasCowboys.com article.

Yarrish also reported that Parker has been trying different options at the green dot position to find a possible fit and get multiple players prepared to take up the role when required.

If Parker also trains Winters for the green dot responsibilities, he could complement Overshown by adding sideline-to-sideline speed and versatility to the linebacker room.

What do you think of Winters' addition to the Cowboys roster? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar