The Cowboys Gambled on a Linebacker Nobody Else Wanted, and the Numbers Say It's Already Backfiring

The 2026 NFL draft is in full swing, and teams are wheeling and dealing like crazy. Seven first-round picks already changed hands before Thursday even kicked off, and the trades kept coming once Round 1 got rolling. But here's the thing: not every deal is a winner, and the Cowboys just made a move that has some serious red flags attached to it.

Dallas Swings for a Linebacker Who Struggled Last Year

The Cowboys traded a fifth-round pick to grab linebacker Dee Winters from the 49ers. On the surface, it sounds like Dallas was desperate to shore up that linebacker room after whiffing in free agency and not pulling the trigger on a linebacker with either of their two first-round picks. Fair enough. But here's where it gets ugly: Winters' actual performance numbers from last season were rough.

We're talking a 10% tackle rate against the run, which put him in just the 2nd percentile among linebackers with at least 300 snaps. His run stop win rate wasn't any better either, sitting at the 9th percentile. Winters did rush the passer 64 times, but the metrics suggest he was getting pushed around more often than he was making plays that actually matter.

San Francisco Got the Better Deal Here

The 49ers graded out as a B+. They were in serious trouble at linebacker to finish last season, but apparently feel healthy and solid enough at the spot now to move Winters. Dealing him for a fifth-rounder when he struggled that much against the run? That's a win for San Francisco. They got out of a bad situation and got something in return.

The Cowboys? They got a C+. Dallas needed help at linebacker, no question about it. But you have to wonder if Winters was really the answer when his tape and numbers suggest he's going to get worked in the run game. These draft trades can shape a franchise for years, so betting on a guy with percentile numbers that bad is a risky play.

More trades are coming as the draft rolls on, and we'll be tracking them all. But this one feels like Dallas paid to fix a problem that might not actually be fixed.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.