The Dallas Cowboys are placing big bets on their 2026 rookie class to plug some glaring defensive holes—and all eyes are on third-round linebacker Jaishawn Barham. After a historically rough defensive season, Dallas barely dipped into free agency for fixes, meaning rookies like Barham will be expected to step up fast. But can a Day 2 pick really make an immediate splash? History offers a reality check.
With Dee Winters and DeMarvion Overshown locked in as starters at inside linebacker, the Cowboys are hoping Barham can handle a serious rotational role. To gauge those expectations, let's look at recent rookie linebacker performances. Using PFF data, we'll examine draft rounds, snap counts, and grades to see how often these young players actually deliver right out of the gate.
During Dallas's rookie minicamp, defensive coordinator Christian Parker spent significant time coaching Barham up, a clear sign the team is prioritizing his development. But the numbers tell a mixed story. In the 2025 rookie class, eight linebackers qualified (playing at least 20% of snaps). Eagles rookie Jihaad Campbell topped the group, while Bengals rookie Barrett Carter landed at the bottom. Notably, no rookie cracked the NFL's top 10 overall, three graded in the top 50, and four finished in the bottom 10 out of 88 qualifiers. Context matters: top performers like Carson Schwesinger and Campbell played on elite defenses, while bottom-tier rookies Demetrius Knight, Shemar James, and Carter struggled on two of the league's worst units—Dallas and Cincinnati.
Rewind to 2024, and only seven rookie linebackers met the 20% snap threshold. Green Bay's Edgerrin Cooper led the pack, ranking in the top 10 among all NFL linebackers. Meanwhile, Cowboys rookie Marist Liufau finished dead last out of seven. The takeaway? Even for a franchise with high hopes, expecting a third-round linebacker to be an instant game-changer is a long shot. Barham has the talent, but history suggests patience—and a strong supporting cast—might be the real keys to his rookie impact.