Jerry Jones gambles, but some draft picks are too risky. Discover which seven prospects the Cowboys should steer clear of.
FRISCO - Critics of the Dallas Cowboys' rebuilding defense continue to point to one 2025 trouble spot as an unsolved mystery for 2026, even after the NFL Draft and a post-draft trade for a veteran who knows his way around DFW.
In San Francisco, Dee Winters played next to Fred Warner, one of the NFL’s best defensive quarterbacks. That allowed him to play fast, attack space and focus on making tackles.
In Dallas, he could be asked to do more, possibly even handling the green-dot communication role.
That’s a big ask for a 25-year-old linebacker in a new system and a contract year.
Indeed, Winters - a TCU product and a native of Brenham, Texas - admits he's never been the green-dot guy before. Nor has he played middle linebacker. Nor has he played in a 3-4.
Said Winters of the trade: Honestly, I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was surprised quite a bit … I definitely didn’t have any plans on being traded. But everything happens for a reason, I’m excited that I’m back home and I get to play for the Dalals Cowboys.”
"Home'' ... in the literal sense, as Winters got the news of the NFL Draft weekend deal (for a fifth-round pick) while he was in the process of moving into a new house in Arlington.
Along with the doubts, the upside is obvious. Winters brings sideline-to-sideline speed, improving instincts and a physical style Dallas badly needed in its linebacker room.
Pair him with DeMarvion Overshown, Shamar James and rookie Jaishawn Barham and the Cowboys suddenly have more youth and athleticism at the position.
But they’re also light on proven leadership.
That’s why we will argue that the team should circle back with another trade offer to Miami for Jordyn Brooks and why a veteran free agent like Bobby Wagner would still make sense.
Wagner may be 36, but his experience, intelligence and communication skills could help everyone around him.
But short of that? Winters gives the Cowboys another hopeful answer at linebacker, where this team has repeatedly failed to close the right deals for the right guys.