5 things to know about the newest Cowboys LB, Dee Winters

TL;DR

The Dallas Cowboys traded a fifth-round pick to acquire linebacker Dee Winters from the San Francisco 49ers. Winters, a four-year veteran, started all 17 games for the 49ers last season.

Key points

Cowboys traded a fifth-round pick for Dee Winters
Winters started all 17 games for the 49ers last season
He is a four-year veteran linebacker
The trade was anticipated by the Cowboys
Cowboys did not have a second-round pick in the 2026 draft

Dallas CowboysSan Francisco 49ersDee Winters

5 things to know about the newest Cowboys LB, Dee Winters

The Dallas Cowboys didn’t hold a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, but they did manage to add a player during the early part of Day 2. The team traded a fifth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for linebacker Dee Winters.

It was a move the Cowboys telegraphed at their pre-draft press conference earlier in the week, where they admitted they were likely trading for a veteran player. The player and position were unknown, until now. Winters is a four-year veteran who started all 17 games for the 49ers last season. Here’s five things to know about the newest Cowboys LB.

1. Texas background

Dallas finds a LB who has ties to the state, growing up in Burton, Texas. After high school, Winters took his talents to TCU, where he eventually became an All-Big 12 player during his senior season.

2. Recruitment process

Winters ranked as the 87th best player in the state, as was recruited by Arkansas, Northwestern, Arizona St. and Texas Tech before committing to TCU. He was a safety coming out of high school but changed positions at TCU and played in 11 games as a true freshman.

3. Starred in TCU's playoff run

Winters’ play improved each year, and Winters posted career best numbers in 2022, when he led a defense that was included in the College Football Playoffs.

The 7.5 sacks during his senior year, was more than his first three seasons combined, and he was named the most valuable defensive player in the playoff semifinal win over Michigan. Winters finished the game with three tackles for a loss and had a 29-yard interception returned for a touchdown in the upset.