How a 22-Year-Old Michigan Linebacker Can Become the Cowboys Most Underrated Pick in the 2026 Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft for the Dallas Cowboys turned into one to remember. Dallas made a significant move by trading up to select the player they had been targeting throughout the pre-draft process, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. With their second first-round pick, they got pass rusher Malachi Lawrence from the University of Central Florida, who, while being a project player, has tremendous upside. The steal of the draft, however, could come from Dallas's third-round pick from the University of Michigan, Jaishawn Barham. The play and physicality that he will bring to a weaker Dallas linebacker core could shift this Dallas defense for the better.
Barham spent his first two collegiate years at the University of Maryland, where he racked up over 95 combined tackles and paired that with nine and a half tackles for loss, including seven sacks. He then transferred to join the Michigan Wolverines, where his versatility was on display in every game, as he was utilized not only as a linebacker but also as an edge rusher. Barham’s performance for Michigan matched his impressive statistics from Maryland, as he recorded 98 combined tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks. The former Michigan linebacker possesses the athletic ability to establish himself in the NFL and significantly impact a Dallas linebacking core that was considered one of the weakest in the league last season. His knack for locating where the football is, strong run defense, and coverage skills have led defensive coordinator Christian Parker to devise a plan to make him a key contributor.
In his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Parker was involved in revitalizing the career of Zack Baun, who was an edge rusher turned linebacker, similarly to Barham. The initial plan for the former Michigan linebacker right now, in Parker's own words, is to “keep him at mike right now and kind of see how it goes." However, this does not exclude the fact that they could move Barham around when the situation arises, like how he was handled at Michigan. The trust for him to play different positions will be gained as the season goes on, but the high praise from Parker, a coach who’s developed players into better versions of themselves in the past, shows the talent and vision everyone believes in. Being a rookie in the NFL is challenging, and being thrust into a demanding position like linebacker for a team such as the Dallas Cowboys adds to that difficulty. However, both Barham and the Cowboys are confident that he will rise to the occasion. Barham stated he models his game after players like Fred Warner, Ray Lewis and Azeez Al-Shaair, and if he can become a version of those players, the Dallas Cowboys got themselves the steal of the draft.
