Cowboys' Barham: Versatile Linebacker with Boom Potential

On April 27, Dallas Cowboys snag Jai Shan Barm as their only day 2 pick in the 2026 NFL

draft, and he's already got fans buzzing, as an exciting addition to the linebacker crew.

At 6 foot 3 and 240 pounds, this Michigan standout fits right where they took him on the

consensus bigboard, bringing that raw.

Explosion off the snap that screams upside, the Cowboys see him more as an off-ball linebacker

who can blitz, perfectly hitting their biggest need inside.

They traded for D winters to set a solid floor in the room, but Barm's the high ceiling

guy they targeted all along, even with options thinning, fast at the position.

His sideline to sideline speed and zone coverage skills mean he could contribute right

away in the middle of the defense, while his natural pass rush, gives off for a safety

net if the transition takes time, it's a smart risk.

Kind of like how they used Malachi Lawrence, blending edge traits with off-ball potential.

Breaking it down with the grades, he scores top marks for team need and scarcity at 10 out

of 10 and 9 out of 10, strong on reward at 9, with.

Solid value across the board leading to an overall 8 out of 10 pick.

This move shores up the D with versatility and boom potential, setting Dallas up to experiment

in sub packages early watch for Barham to make noise as.

The season ramps up.