The Dallas Cowboys did a lot to improve defensively this offseason. Pundits, though, have still wondered if Brian Schottenheimer and the Cowboys front office could make another significant move to acquire an inside linebacker.
Schottenheimer didn’t rule it out when he spoke to reporters at the team’s rookie minicamp Saturday. But the Cowboys head coach also likes the way the group looks on paper.
“I’m comfortable with where we are. We’re not not looking. We’re not not evaluating,” said Schottenheimer. “We’re never closed for business.
“[But] at the end of the day, I think we’ve got a good group of linebackers and now it’s about training them with Christian [Parker] and Scott Symons and those guys and getting all on the same page with the system that we want to run.”
Cowboys Acquired LB Dee Winters From 49ers
Dallas began addressing its defensive needs this offseason during March in NFL free agency. Linebacker, though, was one spot where the team wasn’t able to find an upgrade immediately.
That led to a lot of chatter through late March and April about what the Cowboys could do to address the middle of their defense.
During the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cowboys acquire starting linebacker Dee Winters from the San Fransisco 49ers for a fifth-round pick.
That has quieted that linebacker chatter in Dallas. Clearly not entirely, though, because Schottenheimer is still receiving questions on the subject.
But pundits project Winters to start on the Cowboys defense. Last season, Winters started all 17 games for the 49ers, posting 101 combined tackles. He also had eight tackles for loss, five pass defenses and an interception returned for a touchdown.
While they didn’t bring national headlines, Winters was one of three inside linebackers the Cowboys added this offseason. The team also signed Curtis Robinson in NFL free agency and drafted Jaishawn Barham in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Brian Schottenheimer’s Linebacker Depth for Cowboys
Winters, Robinson and Barham will join a linebacker group in Dallas that will include DeMarvion Overshown and Shemar James.
Overshown enters the team’s offseason workouts as a starter. The Cowboys drafted him at No. 90 overall in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
But he’s dealt with serious injuries throughout the early part of his career. Overshown missed his entire rookie season with a torn ACL. Then after playing well in 2024, he suffered another knee injury. Overshown sat out the first 10 weeks of the 2025 regular season recovering.
James was a fifth-round rookie last year. Thrown somewhat into the fire because of Overshown’s ailment, James played in 14 games, starting six of them, last season.
The Cowboys also have Justin Barron and undrafted free agent Langston Patterson on their inside linebacker depth chart this offseason.
As long as Overshown is healthy, Schottenheimer is justified in feeling relatively confident in the Cowboys linebacker group. Overshown and Winters should be at least serviceable starters, especially with the other improvements Dallas added to other defensive position groups.
Behind Overshown and Winters, the Cowboys can more slowly bring along youngsters Barham and James.
Schottenheimer and the Cowboys, though, should use offseason workouts to continue evaluating linebacker. If the group doesn’t progress as much as it should, Dallas could then pursue more external options.
The Cowboys next round of offseason workouts will be June 1-2.
Cowboys’ Brian Schottenheimer Reacts to Team’s Potential Linebacker Need