The Dallas Cowboys drafted linebacker Jaishawn Barham with the 92nd pick in the third round. After his selection, the Michigan Wolverines' prospect has set certain goals for himself to develop Ray Lewis-like defensive skills ahead of the NFL season.

According to Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News, Barham is set to bring his range and athleticism to the Cowboys as a linebacker, while also training to become better than before.

“I want to be all three [Ray Lewis, Azeez Al-Shaair, Fred Warner], so I can hit, so I can show how smart I am, but for right now I'm definitely the hitter,” Barham said.

During the interview, Jaishawn Barham suggested that he looks up to Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, the Houston Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair, and the San Francisco 49ers’ Fred Warner, who all have different styles of playing defense.

“I like Ray Lewis, Azeez from the Texans, Fred Warner, a couple of guys for sure,” Barham stated. “I feel like they're all different types of players. Ray Lewis, straight hitter, he's a commander of the defense.”

Lewis played for the Baltimore Ravens throughout his entire NFL career, winning two Super Bowls and earning 13 Pro Bowl selections. His breakout year came in 1997, when he recorded 184 total tackles and four sacks.

Barham is known for his versatility, as he played inside linebacker during his two-year stint with the Maryland Terrapins.

After transferring to the University of Michigan, his defensive coordinator, Wink Martindale, played Barham as an edge rusher. In 2025, he started 12 games and recorded 32 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks.

This suggests that Barham definitely has what it takes to reach that level of elite production. However, there are two other athletes whom the Cowboys’ rookie looks up to.

Jaishawn Barham’s Take On Al-Shaair And Warner

During his freshman season at the University of Maryland, Jaishawn Barham recorded 59 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks in 2022.

For his performance, he recceived Freshman All-American honors, similar to Houston Texans' linebacker, Azeez Al-Shaair, during his freshman year in 2015.

In 2025, Al-Shaair started 16 games, recording 103 tackles, nine passes defended, two interceptions, and earned his first Pro Bowl selection.

Another linebacker whom Barham wants to model his game around is Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers.

“Azeez, a take-your-head-off kind of guy, and Fred is more like a cover, chill guy. He can run sideline-to-sideline,” Barham stated.

Fred Warner is the highest-paid off-ball linebacker in NFL history, signing a three-year $63 million contract with the 49ers.

He is also the first player in 49ers' history to record more than 10 sacks and 10 interceptions in his professional career.

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Written by

Monika Khatai

Edited by

Rishab Nandi