The Cowboys landed a linebacker on Day 2 of the NFL draft, but he wasn't a hot up-and-coming college prospect.
In fact, he apparently wasn't even the team's first choice.
Dallas traded a fifth-round pick on Friday- during the draft- to the 49ers in exchange for three-year veteran Dee Winters, a former TCU product who started all 17 games last year for San Francisco and led that club's defense in both tackles and TFLs.
Winters is an immediate upgrade for a Cowboys linebacker corps that's thin on experience and heavy on question marks. DeMarvion Overshown is the leader of the group but has been healthy enough to appear in just 19 out of 51 games since being drafted. Shemar James and Justin Barron were the only other linebackers on the Dallas roster entering draft weekend. But with more pressing needs in the secondary and at edge rusher, the organization elected to use their early selections on those spots and look to bring in a veteran linebacker via a trade.
According to ESPN's Todd Archer and NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the Cowboys targeted Houston's Azeez Al-Shaair first.
Al-Shaair went undrafted out of Florida Atlantic in 2019 and spent his first four seasons with the 49ers and then a year in Tennessee before landing with the Texans in 2024. Last season saw him tally triple-digit tackles for the third time in his career, leading the team in that category and earning his first Pro Bowl nod.
But talks with the Texans about prying away their 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year club winner went nowhere. The Cowboys regrouped and moved on instead to the 49ers and Winters.
Winters had been previously identified as a potential fit in Dallas during talks between the two clubs that eventually sent Osa Odighizuwa to San Francisco.
"This is a process that's been going on for some time to try and make this happen," Cowboys inside linebackers coach Scott Symons said of the Winters acquisition. "I've been a huge advocate for it."
On Wednesday, the Texans extended Al-Shaair through the 2029 season with a reported $54 million deal, ahead of what was to be a contract year for the 28-year-old.
Winters is set to earn just over $3.6 million in base salary in Dallas and is on the final year of his rookie contract.
November 9, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn ImagesJan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesSep 14, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn ImagesSeptember 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) drops a pass defended by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn ImagesJan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesJan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesDec 22, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) carries the ball after an interception for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn ImagesSeptember 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn ImagesNovember 9, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images1 / 9Dee Winters pic galleryNovember 9, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images1 / 9Dee Winters pic galleryNovember 9, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images2 / 9Dee Winters pic galleryJan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images3 / 9Dee Winters pic gallerySep 14, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images4 / 9Dee Winters pic gallerySeptember 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) drops a pass defended by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images5 / 9Cowboys trade for $3.7M 49ers LB, ship out last 5th-round draft pickJan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images6 / 95 things to know about the newest Cowboys LB, Dee WintersJan 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images7 / 9Dee Winters pic galleryDec 22, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) carries the ball after an interception for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth quarter of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images8 / 9Dee Winters pic gallerySeptember 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images9 / 9Dee Winters pic galleryNovember 9, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dee Winters (53) before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn ImagesThis article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Report: Cowboys tried to trade for Texans' Pro Bowl LB Azeez Al-Shaair