The Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones have been very aggressive thus far during the 2026 NFL Draft.
In the first round, the Cowboys pulled off a trade with the Miami Dolphins to move up from No. 12 to No. 11 in order to draft Ohio State standout safety Caleb Downs. After that move, they made another trade to move down from pick No. 20.
With that being said, the aggressiveness has continued on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
According to a report from NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, Dallas has acquired linebacker Dee Winters from the San Francisco 49ers.
“Trade! The Cowboys are acquiring LB Dee Winters from the 49ers, sources tell me, @RapSheet and @SlaterNFL,” Pelissero wrote on X.
Who Is Dee Winters & What Does He Bring to the Cowboys?
Winters is far from being a household name. However, he is a starting caliber linebacker who will instantly compete for a sizable role on the Cowboys’ defense.
Last season with the 49ers, the 25-year-old linebacker played in all 17 regular season games. He totaled 101 tackles to go along with an interception, a defensive touchdown, and five defended passes.
Heading into the second round, adding a linebacker was a priority for Dallas. Instead of using a pick on a rookie linebacker, the Cowboys opted to pull off a trade for a player who has already proven himself capable of playing at a high level in the NFL.
It’s clear that Jones has taken his vow to push Dallas back towards Super Bowl contention seriously with his moves in the first two rounds of the draft.
What Did Dallas Give Up to Acquire Dee Winters?
Shortly after the move was reported, compensation was provided.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Cowboys traded a fifth-round pick to San Francisco for Winters. That is a fair trade for both parties involved.
Dallas will have a player who could slot in as an immediate starter. Winters has proven himself to be a sure tackler and is just 25 years old. He could be a long-term piece of the Cowboys’ defense if things work out as expected.
As for the 49ers, they get extra draft capital to work with.
It will be interesting to see how the move pans out for Dallas. Winters has the potential to be a key role player for the Cowboys and being able to acquire him for a fifth-round pick is a clear win.
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