In a move that caught many off guard during the 2026 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers traded linebacker Dee Winters to the Dallas Cowboys—and now the former sixth-round pick is opening up about his reaction to the sudden change of scenery.

The deal sent Winters to Dallas in exchange for the No. 152 overall pick, which the 49ers later packaged with their own No. 58 selection to move up with the Cleveland Browns. That trade ultimately netted San Francisco two promising young defenders: Romello Height and Gracen Halton in the third and fourth rounds. Not a bad return for a player entering the final year of his rookie contract.

But for Winters, the news hit hard—at first. "Honestly, I wasn't expecting it at all. I was surprised quite a bit," he told Cowboys staff writer Tommy Yarrish days after the trade. "I definitely didn't have any plans on being traded. But everything happens for a reason. I'm excited that I'm back home and I get to play for the Dallas Cowboys."

And "back home" is no exaggeration. Winters, now 25, grew up in Burton, Texas, and starred at TCU from 2019 to 2022 before the 49ers selected him in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft (No. 216 overall). During his three seasons in San Francisco, he appeared in 47 games, tallying 155 tackles, 10 passes defensed, three quarterback hits, and one interception. His 2025 campaign was especially impressive, as he posted a career-high 101 tackles and became a key piece of the 49ers' linebacker rotation.

So why would San Francisco let him go? The answer lies in the return of veteran linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who rejoined the team in free agency. With Greenlaw back in the fold, the 49ers felt comfortable enough to trade Winters while they could still get value in return—a savvy roster move that also freed up cap space and added draft capital.

For Winters, the trade represents a fresh start with his hometown team. And for Cowboys fans, it's a chance to welcome a hard-hitting, experienced linebacker who's ready to prove he belongs in Dallas.