Jaishawn Barham: A Dark Horse 26′ Defensive Rookie of the Year Candidate

Jaishawn Barham might be the Cowboys rookie everyone is sleeping on.

As we all know, Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence are getting all the attention early in the offseason, and they should. They are high-profile players, but an unsung rookie could be the quiet one to take the headlines once the season gets going.

Christian Parker has a defender, much like Downs, who he can move around the defensive front seven. Barham can play just about every position from linebacker to the defensive line.

We don’t have to watch Dallas force this guy into a job. If Christian Parker is as advertised, he will find a way to put this young man in a position to succeed. Or find the position that Barham can cause the most havoc and keep using him there.

Jaishawn Barham Gives Dallas Options

I would hate to see the Cowboys line Jaishawn Barham up at inside linebacker every snap and just call it good.

He can do much more than that.

At Michigan, Jaishawn Barham handled linebacker duties while also succeeding near the line. He has the size to fight through traffic and enough burst to make a quarterback nervous.

I would keep him inside against a running team and let him get downhill. He could even spy a mobile quarterback, and on passing downs, walk him up to the line and make the offense decide if he’s coming or not.

I want to see that kind of uncertainty from this defense.

The Award Talk Isn’t Crazy

I’m probably one of the only people to go down this road, but I think Jaishawn Barham could make a push for defensive rookie of the year.

However, not many sports writers remember the six quiet tackles in the second quarter of a game, but they will remember the strip sack, and highlight reel plays.

Jaishawn Barham has a path to all of those types of stats and plays because Dallas can send him after the football instead of asking him to sit back all afternoon and watch the play unfold.

Caleb Downs will get the headlines, but Barham has the opportunity to get plays Downs won’t. Jaishawn Barham will have a much better chance to pile up sacks, force fumbles, and get tackles for a loss.

The Linebacker Room Is Wide Open

We can look at the Dallas Cowboys linebacker and see it isn’t a finished product.

There are players returning from injuries, and all the players are learning a new system under Parker. Jobs will be there to be won in the linebacker room.

If I know one thing, a training camp can flip a depth-chart fast. A rookie like Jaishawn Barham just needs to string together a few strong practices, and blow up a few plays then suddenly, the coaches have to find snaps for him.

I don’t need him to look like an All-Pro in August, he just needs to show up around the football enough so that Dallas cannot justify leaving him on the sideline.

I’ll Bet on the Quiet Rookie

I expect Caleb Downs to play like a Pro Bowler, and Lawrence could be right there too.

Neither one of those players have to fail for Jaishawn Barham to succeed. He’ll have ways to make an impact, and the Cowboys have enough questions at linebacker for him to earn time.

If he makes plays before the season starts. The Cowboys can’t ignore the rookie who’s all over the field.

If Jaishawn Barham starts piling up the stats, the Defensive Rookie of the Year talk will not sound wild anymore.