Former 49ers LB Dee Winters reveals reaction to trade to Cowboys

The San Francisco 49ers made several trades throughout the 2026 NFL draft, and while some of them were strictly pick-for-pick deals, one included a player that spent the last three seasons with Kyle Shanahan's team.

That trade sent linebacker Dee Winters to the Dallas Cowboys for pick No. 152, which San Francisco flipped again (along with No. 58) to the Cleveland Browns for Nos. 70 and 107. So, in the end, the pick for Winters helped the 49ers land Romello Height and Gracen Halton in the third and fourth round.

Days after the trade, Winters spoke with Cowboys staff writer Tommy Yarrish and revealed his reaction to the deal.

"Honestly, I wasn't expecting it at all. I was surprised quite a bit…" Winters said. "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 Dallas Cowboys."

Winters, 25, was raised in Burton, Texas, and played at TCU from 2019-22 before the 49ers took him in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft (No. 216 overall). He appeared in 47 games for San Francisco and recorded 155 tackles, 10 passes defensed, three quarterback hits and one interception.

While Winters played a pivotal role and recorded a career-high 101 tackles for the 49ers in 2025, the return of Dre Greenlaw in free agency made San Francisco comfortable enough to get a pick in return before the Winters entered the final year of his rookie deal.