How likely is it Cowboys 3rd-round linebacker makes impact as rookie?

2024 rookie LB class

Only seven rookie linebackers qualified by playing at least 20 percent of the snaps in 2024. Edgerrin Cooper from the Green Bay Packers finished No. 1 and Marist Liufau from the Cowboys finished last at No. 7.

In a field of 84, Cooper graded in the top 10 overall as a rookie while three others joined him in the top 50. Success came from all different areas of the draft, including undrafted, with most of the top performing linebackers playing on the top performing NFL defenses.

Cowboys’ takeaways

A common thread in both of these linebacker classes and both of the last two cornerback draft classes as well, is top performing rookies come from top performing defenses. One could say the defenses are great because the rookies are great, but one could also deduce the reason the rookies are performing well is because teammates are performing well around them.

The Cowboys have had the unfortunate distinction of having low performers in both of these draft classes. James graded as the second worst linebacker in his rookie class and Liufau graded as the worst in his draft class. It’s possible the Cowboys are terrible at scouting linebackers but it’s more likely they just dropped their rookies into impossible situations in each of the last two seasons.

If the Cowboys want Barham to thrive as a rookie linebacker, they’d be wise to improve the conditions around him. The hope is that with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker in place, the Cowboys are finally on track to do just that.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys hope Jaishawn Barham can impact as rookie, is it realistic?