With the No. 92 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Jaishawn Barham, linebacker out of Michigan. The team didn’t have a pick in the second round, sat tight and used their third-round choice on a second edge player in three picks.
Barham was used as an outside linebacker and pass rusher in his final season at Michigan, but he was primarily an off-ball linebacker until that point. The Cowboys, under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, plan to use him in both capacities, similar to the way that Zack Baun has been used in Philadelphia.
Barham looks best in blue 🔵@JaishawnBarham | @UMichFootball #CowboysDraft | @Fanatics pic.twitter.com/4roRlMgvHI
The third-round pick played two years at Maryland before landing with the Wolverines for his final two seasons. He finished with 12 sacks and 23 tackles for a loss during his four years in the Big 10, and now will join Malachi Lawrence in Dallas' revised front.
Under Parker the Cowboys have chosen a path of finding younger, more athletic options instead of adding veterans to fill the pass rushing void.
Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) tackles Michigan State running back Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams (15) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) sacks Central Michigan quarterback Joe Labas (2)during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) sacks Central Michigan quarterback Joe Labas (2) during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) arrives ahead of the Washington game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.Oct 4, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) reacts in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn ImagesMichigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) warms up at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan defensive lineman Jaishawn Barham (DL33) runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesMichigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) tackles New Mexico quarterback Jack Layne (2) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025.1 / 8Cowboys newest ILB/OLB, Jaishawn Barham from MichiganMichigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) tackles Michigan State running back Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams (15) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.1 / 8Cowboys newest ILB/OLB, Jaishawn Barham from MichiganMichigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) tackles Michigan State running back Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams (15) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.2 / 8NFL draft results: Cowboys select Michigan's Jaishawn Barham at No. 92Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) sacks Central Michigan quarterback Joe Labas (2)during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.3 / 8Cowboys newest ILB/OLB, Jaishawn Barham from MichiganMichigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) sacks Central Michigan quarterback Joe Labas (2) during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.4 / 8Cowboys newest ILB/OLB, Jaishawn Barham from MichiganMichigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) arrives ahead of the Washington game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.5 / 8Cowboys newest ILB/OLB, Jaishawn Barham from MichiganOct 4, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) reacts in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images6 / 8Cowboys newest ILB/OLB, Jaishawn Barham from MichiganMichigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) warms up at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.7 / 8Cowboys newest ILB/OLB, Jaishawn Barham from MichiganFeb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan defensive lineman Jaishawn Barham (DL33) runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images8 / 8Cowboys newest ILB/OLB, Jaishawn Barham from MichiganMichigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham (1) tackles New Mexico quarterback Jack Layne (2) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025.You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenTalksCowboys and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Cowboys select pass rusher Jaishawn Barham