FRISCO, Texas — Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer sat with Jaishawn Barham for a few minutes Tuesday, and said Wednesday that the Dallas Cowboys rookie is getting more comfortable in the locker room than he was in the spring.
Barham’s demeanor around reporters does not tell the story, according to Schottenheimer.
“You talk about a guy that’s wired the right way, and don’t let his demeanor or the way he carries himself around you guys make you think for one second that he’s not all in for this football team,” Schottenheimer said. “He is very serious at what he does, and he wants to be great. But he’s getting more and more comfortable in this locker room, around our players, around our coaches, and I think he’s a terrific young man.”
What Dallas Cowboys Saw On Draft Day
A groin injury slowed Barham early. The versatility Dallas drafted him for has held up, and Schottenheimer traced the pick back to the room on draft weekend.
“He was slowed down a little bit because of the groin, but from the time he’s gotten here, we’ve been really excited about the player, the person, the seriousness that he approaches meetings with and the ability to communicate,” Schottenheimer explained. “The versatility is real and it kind of goes back to draft day. And we did the work. We did the prep. He was there. Jerry made the call, and it was great.”
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones made the pick. Dallas took Barham in the third round at No. 92 overall out of Michigan. The pick came from San Francisco in the trade that sent Osa Odighizuwa west. Schottenheimer said in April that Barham would start out working as an inside linebacker with the intent of moving him around to rush the quarterback.
Barham played most of his college career as an off-ball linebacker at Maryland before moving to the edge at Michigan for his final season. He wears No. 55. Schottenheimer said in April that Dallas saw a hybrid role for him, and invoked Zack Baun, who moved from off-ball linebacker to a pass-rushing role in Philadelphia under Vic Fangio.
Dallas held seven picks in the 2026 draft. Caleb Downs went at No. 11 and Malachi Lawrence at No. 23. Three fourth-rounders followed, and wide receiver Anthony Smith closed it out at No. 218.
Jaishawn Barham At Rookie Night
Barham had a part in the rookie skit night. It was not a speaking one.
“He was an extra, I will say. He was involved. He played his part beautifully, beautifully,” Schottenheimer said. “But he was more of an extra, which some of the guys were only extras.”
Told that Barham had not done an impression of a coach, Schottenheimer said he was Oscar worthy of what he did as an extra.
The linebacker room includes DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters, Shemar James, and Marist Liufau. Overshown played 218 defensive snaps in 2025. Liufau played 361 on special teams, 74.59% of the team’s total. Dallas acquired Winters from San Francisco early on Day 2 of the draft. San Francisco had taken him in the sixth round in 2023, 216th overall out of TCU, and he has 155 career tackles, 10 pass breakups, an interception, and a defensive touchdown.
Friday’s finale against New Orleans kicks off at 7 p.m. CT at AT&T Stadium on CBS locally. Rosters must be at 53 players by 5 p.m. CT Sunday, Aug. 30.
