Cowboys Reportedly Trade for 49ers LB in 2026 NFL Draft, Add to New-Look Defense with Caleb Downs

After using a pair of first-round draft picks on defensive players, the Dallas Cowboys continued to revamp that side of the ball.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Cowboys sent a fifth-round pick in this year's draft to the San Francisco 49ers to acquire linebacker Dee Winters. He joins a new-look defense that includes No. 11 pick Caleb Downs and No. 23 pick Malachi Lawrence.

A sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft, Winters is coming off the best season of his young career. He led the 49ers with 101 total tackles in 2025 while adding five passes defended and an interception that he returned for a 74-yard touchdown.

ESPN's Todd Archer and Nick Wagoner reported that the Cowboys "searched for a middle linebacker in free agency" but failed to sign top targets Quay Walker, Devin Lloyd and Nakobe Dean. Sources said they "had trade discussions with a number of teams, including the Houston Texans for Azeez Al-Shaair and the Miami Dolphins for Jordan Brooks," but it was determined that "the asking prices were too high."

The Cowboys don't own a second-round pick after sending their selection to the New York Jets as part of the Quinnen Williams trade. They will be on the clock in the third round with the 92nd overall pick. Archer and Wagoner noted that Dallas could still target a linebacker over the remainder of the draft.

Adding Winters is another strong step for a Cowboys defense that needs a major turnaround after ranking last in the NFL with 30.1 points allowed per game last season. Dallas will try to continue improving its defense with its remaining draft picks.