Barham is a football player, period. What does that mean? It means you’re going to see him playing inside linebacker sometimes and, at other times, he’ll line up and rush off the edge as an outside linebacker in Dallas. Barham began his career at Michigan as a Freshman All-American and went on to become a four-year starter for the Wolverines, the tenth-ranked linebacker out of high school at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. Leading all freshman in the country in tackles as a freshman is a testament to one of his biggest calling cards: making tackles.
Barham saw an increase in missed tackles in 2025, but rarely missed any in seasons prior (could be for a variety of reasons but it was an outlier year in that area). As for rushing the passer, when moved to the outside by Michigan last season, Barham produced 10 combined tackles for loss, four sacks, and 21 pressures through 12 games. He quickly diagnoses plays and react with lightning speed to shut it down, and Hands — violent. First step — explosive. Coverage ability — solid but needs refinement as an inside LB. Bend — above average for an outside LB. Experience — elite. Football IQ — high (Academic All-Big Ten selection).
The 22-year-old was the best EDGE player on my board when the Cowboys went on the board at No. 92, though his frame will need some more mass to become more of a run stopper off the edge; but there’s very good potential here for Barham to make an impact as early as Year 1. As a related aside, he’s also the first player from Michigan drafted in the third round since Jourdan Lewis, and they both went at 92nd-overall (hmm).