Cowboys 2026 roster rundown: LB Dee Winters

Dee Winters has flown under the radar a bit since being acquired by the Cowboys. As an experienced linebacker with a fairly clear path to a starting role, you’d think there’d be more fanfare. But hopefully, the real noise around Winters will come from his performance in 2026. Background Years in NFL

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What is the story about?

Dee Winters has flown under the radar a bit since being acquired by the Cowboys. As an experienced linebacker with a fairly clear path to a starting role, you’d think there’d be more fanfare. But hopefully, the real noise around Winters will come from his performance in 2026.

Background

Years in NFL: 3
Acquired by: Trade (2026)

A sixth-round pick by the 49ers in 2023, the former TCU Horned Frog made their 53 as a down-roster linebacker who played most of his snaps on special teams. Winters got more playing time

in his second season, starting 10 games thanks largely to an injury to veteran Dre Greenlaw. He received solid marks from Pro Football Focus that year, most notable being their sixth-best linebacker in pass coverage.

Winters became a full-time starter last season, playing wingman to All-Pro Fred Warner. According to PFF, Winters was 46th overall for off-ball linebackers and still did his best work against the pass, where he ranked 29th. His grades took a hit after Warner suffered a season-ending injury in Week 6, forcing Winters to take a bigger role in the Niners’ defense.

Back in April, going into Day 2 of the draft without a second-round pick, the Cowboys were still desperately needing help at inside linebacker. They’d helped the defense with safety Caleb Down and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, but linebacker remained a critical and unaddressed need. Instead of leaving it to chance, Dallas worked out a deal with the Niners for Winters in exchange for one of multiple fifth-round picks the following day.

Contract Status

Years Left: 1
2026 Cap Hit: $3.67 million

Thanks to all his playing time the last two years, Winters’ final year in his rooke contract has gone up from performance-based-pay escalators. It’s still a bargain for Dallas, though, if Winters fulfills the expectation of being a full-time starter.

2026 Projections

Role: Starting ILB
Roster Chance: 100%

While he’s here to play a major role, Winters isn’t your field general or the prototypical MIKE linebacker. He isn’t even expected to get the green dot, DeMarvion Overshown is first up for that responsibility. Winters, undersized and with his best work coming pass coverage, figures to be a primary nickel LB and a WILL in other formations.

While Winters should finish the year with one of the highest snap counts of the LB group, he may not be a 17-game starter. We could see more of Jaishawn Barham, Shemar James, or other prospects in early-down formations, especially if it’s to stop an anticipated run. But as most NFL teams play nickel more than any other scheme, and the Cowboys are certainly headed that way in 2026, Winters will get ample playing time.

We’re also still waiting to see if Winters and Overshown remain the Cowboys’ top-two linebackers by the start of camp. If a veteran free agent gets added, how playing time gets divied up becoming more interesting. A lot will depend on how these different players take to Christian Parker’s scheme, and who stays healthy enough to actually be on the field.

Having to start over with a new team in a contract year isn’t ideal for Dee Winters, but there’s no lack of opportunity for him in Dallas. If he can adapt quickly and help us forget about the likes of Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray, Winters will be a welcome and much-needed addition to the Cowboys’ defense.

Check out our previous player profiles from this series: