The San Francisco 49ers traded linebacker Dee Winters to the Dallas Cowboys for a fifth-round pick, No. 152 overall. Winters, a 2023 sixth-round selection, recorded 155 tackles and became a starter in 2025.
Key points
49ers traded Dee Winters to Cowboys for a fifth-round pick
Winters was selected No. 216 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft
He recorded 155 combined tackles in three seasons
In 2025, he became a starter with a career-high 101 tackles
Cowboys received a B+ grade for the trade
San Francisco 49ersDallas CowboysDee Winters
The San Francisco 49ers have executed another draft day trade in a continued attempt to stack picks.
The 49ers have sent 25-year-old linebacker Dee Winters to the Dallas Cowboys for a fifth-round selection. San Francisco received the No. 152 overall pick, slated for Day 3, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
Winters was selected by San Francisco with the No. 216 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. In three seasons with the 49ers, Winters recorded 155 combined tackles, 10 pass deflections and an interception returned for a touchdown. He played all 17 games in the 2025 season, where he became a starter and recorded a career-high 101 tackles, five deflections and interception and score.
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Large helmets of the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
Fans watch during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
A general overall view of Acrisure Stadium during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
A Pittsburgh Steelers fan plays a bagpipe in Market Square during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
Pittsburgh Steelers and Terrible Towel banners in Market Square during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
Local military members watch the Q&A session with ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes and Cam Heyward at the USAA NFL Draft event at the City Winery in the Strip District, Thursday, April 23, 2026 ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A Here We Go sign is featured at Steelers Country at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Construction crews continue to put the finishing touches on the draft theater Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from outside Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The NFL Draft Red Carpet at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A fan takes video of the Q&A session at the USAA NFL Draft event at the City Winery in the Strip District, Thursday, April 23, 2026 ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans pose at a 2026 NFL Draft activation in downtown on April 22, 2026.
A City of Pittsburgh River Rescue boat sails along the Allegheny River near Acrisure Stadium during the 2026 NFL Draft on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A general overall view of 2026 NFL Draft banners on the Roberto Clemente aka Sixth Street bridge on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A statue of former Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente outside the center field gate of PNC Park on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A general overall view of large Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts helmet at the 2026 NFL Draft Experience at Acrisure Stadium on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
A statue of Pittsburgh Steeles fullback Franco Harris completing the Immaculate Reception at the Pittsburgh International Airport on April 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Street banners promoting the 2026 NFL Draft in downtown on April 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Duval representing in Pittsburgh as Nikki Mcglockton aka Tally Jag, right, and Jerome Johnson, aka Jaxonball Z, gear up for Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on April 23, 2026.
Bengals Twins Steve, left, and Jeff, prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in downtown Pittsburgh, where they want their team to draft 'defense, defense, defense.'
Tennessee Titans cheerleaders excited for Round 1 of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
The 2026 NFL Draft Theater stage at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
The 2026 NFL Draft Theater stage at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of the downtown skyline and Fort Duquesne bridge of the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 22, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Large helmets of the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Fans watch during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of Acrisure Stadium during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A Pittsburgh Steelers fan plays a bagpipe in Market Square during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers and Terrible Towel banners in Market Square during the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Local military members watch the Q&A session with ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes and Cam Heyward at the USAA NFL Draft event at the City Winery in the Strip District, Thursday, April 23, 2026 ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A Here We Go sign is featured at Steelers Country at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Construction crews continue to put the finishing touches on the draft theater Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from outside Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
The NFL Draft Red Carpet at the NFL Draft Fan Experience at Point State Park, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A fan takes video of the Q&A session at the USAA NFL Draft event at the City Winery in the Strip District, Thursday, April 23, 2026 ahead of the first round of the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers fans pose at a 2026 NFL Draft activation in downtown on April 22, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A City of Pittsburgh River Rescue boat sails along the Allegheny River near Acrisure Stadium during the 2026 NFL Draft on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of 2026 NFL Draft banners on the Roberto Clemente aka Sixth Street bridge on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A statue of former Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente outside the center field gate of PNC Park on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A general overall view of large Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts helmet at the 2026 NFL Draft Experience at Acrisure Stadium on April 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
A statue of Pittsburgh Steeles fullback Franco Harris completing the Immaculate Reception at the Pittsburgh International Airport on April 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Street banners promoting the 2026 NFL Draft in downtown on April 21, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Duval representing in Pittsburgh as Nikki Mcglockton aka Tally Jag, right, and Jerome Johnson, aka Jaxonball Z, gear up for Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on April 23, 2026.
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Bengals Twins Steve, left, and Jeff, prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in downtown Pittsburgh, where they want their team to draft 'defense, defense, defense.'
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Steel City ready for draft night as the NFL comes to Pittsburgh
Tennessee Titans cheerleaders excited for Round 1 of the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
Why did the 49ers trade Dee Winters?
Winters was growing to be a fan favorite. He's young, relatively healthy and he does his job. He stepped up to the call when his name was pulled to be a starter in 2025, filling in for an injury-riddled San Francisco core.
He's shown promise, and that he could be a force in the NFL. From the Cowboys' side, that's exactly what Dallas needs: another defensive boost.
But why would the 49ers send him off? For starters, they eliminated any potential contract negotiation as Winters becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2027. It was either keep him on an expiring contract for the 2026 season, or potentially lose him for nothing.
Additionally, Winters will likely want to continue playing as a starter but that might not happen in San Francisco. Star linebacker Fred Warner, who was injured most of 2025, expects to come back healthy and ready to go. The 49ers signed Dre Greenlaw this offseason, welcoming back the 28-year-old who spent the 2025 season with the Denver Broncos.
Although Winters made strides last season and looks to be on an upward trajectory, the 49ers boast further depth at linebacker with Tatum Bethune and Nick Martin, who have moved up the depth chart.
San Francisco receives a Dallas fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, so if they are in need to replace Winters, they can look to add a player in the draft on a rookie contract.
