Full Breakdown
Dallas Cowboys Draft Michigan Edge Rusher Jaishawn Barham in Third Round
4/25/2026, 1:45:32 PM
Draft Selection
On Friday night, the Dallas Cowboys selected Jaishawn Barham, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound former Michigan edge rusher, with the 92nd overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Barham became the third Michigan player taken on Day 2, following Derrick Moore (Detroit Lions, No. 44) and tight end Marlin Klein (Houston, No. 59). The selection marked Dallas’s first addition to the linebacker group in the offseason.
College Journey and Position Shift
Barham transferred from the University of Maryland to Michigan in 2024. After playing linebacker at Maryland and early at Michigan, he moved to edge rusher for his final season. In 12 games at the new position, he recorded 10 tackles for loss and four sacks, earning honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors. His nickname “Superman” from interim head coach Biff Poggi and “Killa” from teammate Nathan Efobi reflected his aggressive style.
Statistical Profile
Height: 6-ft-3; Weight: 240 lb.
2025 season (Michigan): 10 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 0 forced fumbles.
Career at Michigan: 24.5 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, 8 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles in 53 games.
Ranked No. 77 by NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and No. 88 by ESPN entering the draft.
Cowboys’ Defensive Plans
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer indicated the team will initially place Barham at inside linebacker, emphasizing his “rare speed and athleticism.” The coaching staff also expects to deploy him as a pass-rusher on third-down passing situations, valuing his “physicality.” Cowboys COO and co-owner Stephen Jones noted the organization is “still building the room” at linebacker, adding that the draft gave them “two chairs” to increase competition. Defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s scheme is expected to leverage Barham’s versatility.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We're going to try him at inside linebacker first,” — Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys head coach
- “We also think we can move him as a rusher on third down on passing situations.” — Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys head coach
- “We're still building the room. We needed to rebuild it,” — Stephen Jones, Cowboys COO and co-owner
- “ NFL Network’s draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said recently on a conference call with reporters that several NFL teams he spoke with liked Barham because he’s still new to the position and can be developed.” — Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network analyst
What’s Next
Barham will report to Dallas’s rookie minicamp in May, where coaches will evaluate his fit at inside linebacker versus edge-rusher roles. The Cowboys anticipate further linebacker additions in the fourth and seventh rounds, signaling a continued emphasis on depth and competition in the defensive unit.
