2026 NFL Draft grades: Cowboys find “mid-round gem” on Day 2

How he fits with the Cowboys: Barham will be part of a revamped front seven in Dallas. If he can earn some snaps as a rookie, he’ll be working next to first-round pick Malachi Lawrence, inside linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and veteran edge rusher Rashan Gary. The Athletic: **B+** Barham is still a project off the edge, as he played most of his college career as an off-ball linebacker. He’s extremely physical and explosive, though, with good length and speed off the corner. This was a dice roll worth taking for Dallas, as it has time to bring Barham along at the right speed. Bleacher Report: **B** The Dallas Cowboys crushed the first-round process. They weren’t done adding to their defensive front despite selecting Malachi Lawrence in the first round.

In some ways, Jaishawn Barham’s addition is similar to Lawrence’s, in that both are developmental edge-rushers with massive upside.

For Barham, he began his final year on campus as an off-ball linebacker before converting to a full-time edge. His flexibility could make him a defensive chess piece in Dallas’ new-look defense. For The Win: **B-** Barham’s bend and quickness will buy him a lot of time in the Dallas defense. He’s a great athlete who makes plays that few contemporaries even dream of. However, the Cowboys are going to have to be patient with him, as he relies more on his athleticism than you would like for a hopeful regular starter. Provided they give him time to get seasoning, the Cowboys might have found themselves a mid-round gem. We’ll see how long they actually stay patient. SB Nation: **B-** Barham plays with quickness and a high motor. The tools are there, but he needs to develop a complete pass-rushing plan to win consistently in the NFL. Yahoo: **C** He reminds you of a less athletic version of YaYa Diaby, and not much else. The Cowboys are throwing resources at their pass rush room though, so the fit is obvious.