The Dallas Cowboys checked off just about every box that they were looking to check in recent weeks, bolstering a defense that was the worst in the NFL last year and gave up a franchise-record 511 points in 2025. They focused their efforts on the secondary in free agency, adding Jalen Thompson and PJ Locke at safety, with Cobie Durant coming on at corner, after addressed the front by trading for edge rusher Rashan Gary before that.
Of course, the Cowboys went hard at the defense in the NFL draft, with five of their seven draft picks–including their two first-rounders–being used on D. Additionally, one of the Cowboys’ fifth-round picks was used for a trade to bring in a player who could fill the biggest hole on the team, linebacker Dee Winters from the 49ers.
But the question of whether Winters is enough to fill in that linebacker hole on his own is still lingering. The Cowboys plan to use third-round pick Jaishawn Barham at linebacker (he played both linebacker and edge in college), but the position is still decidedly thin, leaving open the possibility of a trade to fill the spot–perhaps for Jordyn Brooks, the Dolphins All-Pro.
Jordyn Brooks Trade Hope? Likely Dead
Except that the potential for a Brooks-to-the Cowboys trade might well have been extinguished after the draft. While there has not been a direct assessment of the linebacker position from the Cowboys–coach Brian Schottenheimer has only said it is too soon to determine how the room will shake out–beat reporter Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said a Brooks deal is probably “dead.
When asked, “Is the Jordyn Brooks hope dead after Dee Winters?” on Twitter/X, Harris responded, “I would say so, yes.”
While a trade for Brooks probably always made more sense for the cash-strapped Dolphins after June 1, so they could spread out his cap hit, it appears the Cowboys are prepared to roll forward without him. Also of note: Harris was the first to report that the Cowboys had discussed a Brooks trade, which was later confirmed by a report from Miami saying the teams had talked about a potential deal.
In other words, while things can change, if a deal is off Harris is likely on top of it.
Can Dee Winters Handle the Cowboys Job?
Winters is not a terrible option for the Cowboys, and he played well last year filling in for the injured Fred Warner. He started all 17 games and had 101 tackles, with eight coming for a loss. Winters was rated the No. 47 out of 88 linebackers in the league by Pro Football Focus, though linebacker is a position that is notably tough to grade.
The Cowboys could still go after a veteran free agent, and there is time (and room on the roster) for them to do so once they get a chance to evaluate where they are. Veteran Bobby Wagner, a former teammate of Brooks in Seattle, remains unsigned but the Cowboys have resisted any urge to sign him so far.
Cowboys Could Sign a Veteran to Bolster Dee Winters
And perhaps Winters is up to the job. 49ers general manager John Lynch told reporters after the trade that the Cowboys had long had an interest in Winters, so maybe there’s something they see in him that suggests he can handle the role.
As Lynch said: “We made that trade today, and that’s tough because Dee Winters is a guy who’s done a lot for us here. Sixth-round pick out of TCU, but Dee is one of the favorite guys in that locker room amongst his teammates. He’s done a lot for us on the field.
“We just felt like we were in a good position at linebacker, and Dallas has been really interested in him for a long time.
Cowboys’ Pursuit of All-Pro Defender Likely ‘Dead’