Dallas Cowboys select Michigan football linebacker Jaishawn Barham with No. 92 pick in NFL draft

PITTSGURGH – The Dallas Cowboys selected linebacker Jaishawn Barham from the University of Michigan with the No. 92 overall pick in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday night, adding a versatile and explosive defender with experience both on and off the ball.

Barham spent his collegiate career at Maryland before transferring to Michigan, where he showcased his ability as a hybrid linebacker and pass rusher with impact potential at multiple spots in a defensive front.

As a freshman with the Michigan Wolverines in 2022, Barham earned Freshman All-American honors after leading Maryland with 6.5 tackles for loss and tying for the team lead with four sacks.

He started 12 games and finished the season with 58 tackles, four sacks, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble.

In 2023, he was named honorable mention All-Big Ten after starting 11 games and recording 37 tackles, three sacks, an interception, and a pass breakup.

Barham continued his steady production in 2024, starting all 13 games and finishing with 66 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and two pass breakups.

In 2025, he earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors again, appearing in 12 games with 11 starts. He totaled 32 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble.

Primarily deployed as an off-ball linebacker, Barham’s 2025 film highlighted his explosiveness and versatility, drawing interest from teams seeking a developmental rush linebacker in multiple defensive schemes.

At 6-foot-3 with a powerful, athletic build, Barham is known for his ability to defeat blocks with quickness and strength. He flashes sudden first-step explosiveness as a rusher and can win with dips, rips, and edge-flattening speed against slower offensive tackles.

Scouts note his elite bend and reactive athleticism, which allow him to make plays in space and finish tackles from difficult angles.

He also shows smooth movement in coverage and strong stop-start ability when changing direction.

While Barham’s motor and physical tools stand out, evaluators say he remains raw as a pass rusher and must improve his discipline and consistency to limit negative plays. His ability to stack and shed blocks is considered a strength, but his edge-setting technique is still developing.

Despite those areas for growth, Barham is widely viewed as a high-upside defender with the versatility to play inside linebacker or stand-up edge, and he projects as a potential future starter once his technique matures.