Jaishawn Barham LB/EDGE Michigan |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #1 PLAY STYLE: BOX LB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 04/10/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.64 seconds (70%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.6 DOB: 02/02/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #1 | |
| PLAY STYLE: BOX LB | |
| Last Updated: 04/10/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| Forty time: 4.64 seconds (70%*) | |
| Age: 22.6 DOB: 02/02/2004 | |
| Overall Rating: | 84.5 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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76% |
| Pass Rush: |
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75% |
| Run Defense: |
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96% |
| Coverage: |
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62% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#116
Position rank:
#12 (LB)
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| College Games: 47 College Snaps: 2000 | ||
ESPN RATING: 83/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 94/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Drew Sanders - Arkansas |
|
70% |
| Oluwafemi Oladejo - UCLA |
|
69% |
| Barryn Sorrell - Texas |
|
64% |
Drafted: ROUND: 3 - Pick Number: 92 (DAL)
Draft Profile: Bio
A four-year starter who finished his career at Michigan, Barham played his prep ball at DeMatha Catholic before transferring to St. Frances Academy in Baltimore for his final two seasons. He was a consensus four-star recruit, the tenth-ranked linebacker in the 2022 class, and the top-ranked signee in Mike Locksley's Maryland class after a late flip from South Carolina on signing day.At Maryland, Barham started from day one. As a true freshman he led all Big Ten freshmen in tackles with 58, added 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, and earned Freshman All-American honors from College Football News. His sophomore year brought 37 tackles, three sacks, and his first career interception before he entered the portal and reunited with former St. Frances teammate Derrick Moore in Ann Arbor.
Barham started all 13 games at off-ball linebacker for Michigan in 2024, finishing second on the team with 66 tackles. In 2025, Wink Martindale's staff moved him to boundary edge in Week 3, and he responded with 10.0 tackles for loss, four sacks, and 21 pressures across 12 games. He earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in both Michigan seasons, was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, and declined an invitation to the Senior Bowl.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Violent hands at the point of attack; stacks and sheds with authority on down blocks.
- Quick first step off the snap creates immediate displacement and collapses rush lanes.
- Run defense translates from any alignment; reads blocking schemes and fills fast.
- Linebacker background shows up in zone drops and short-area body control.
- Above-average timed speed for 240 pounds; closes from the backside in a hurry.
- Plays with quiet toughness and slams his hands into blocks without hesitation.
- Has the bend and ankle flex to flatten the corner on slower tackles.
- Four years of starting production across two programs and two position groups.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Narrow and tapered lower body; bulk is mediocre for an every-down edge.
- Pass rush plan is underdeveloped; wins on traits rather than hand counters.
- Attacks before reading and can fly past the football into the backfield.
- Missed tackle rate spiked badly in 2025 after a clean 2024 season at off-ball.
- Coverage in space against tight ends and backs is a liability on deeper drops.
- Snap anticipation comes and goes; offsides penalties piled up late in the year.
- Discipline issues bubble over, including the head-butt on an official versus Ohio State.
Scouting Report: Summary
Run defense is the calling card here, full stop. The way Barham attacks down blocks, stacks offensive linemen at the point, and triggers downhill is NFL-ready work, and the tape at Michigan in 2025 is the best evidence of it. He is at his best when a defense can move him around and let him play aggressively, lining him up as a rush linebacker one snap and a hand-down edge the next. Add in real closing burst from the backside and testing numbers that confirm the speed you see on tape, and there is a foundation here to build on.The cleanest fit is an odd-front defense that can deploy him as a strong-side rush linebacker, let him set the edge on early downs, and unleash him as a designed pressure player on obvious passing downs. A coordinator who blitzes from multiple spots can get him running downhill without asking him to win extended one-on-one matchups against NFL tackles. Sub-package work as a stand-up rusher fits the same mold while his hand usage develops.
The concerns are real. He is a tweener in the truest sense, without the bulk to hold up every down on the edge or the instincts to play off-ball full time, and the discipline lapses have to be cleaned up before he can be trusted on the field in critical moments. Coverage will keep him on the sideline in some passing situations early. That said, the run defense, positional flexibility, and explosive traits give him a floor as a rotational piece with genuine starter upside if a patient staff develops the pass rush toolbox.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
Jaishawn Barham percentiles vs other Linebackers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Jaishawn Barham (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
82.1
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
12.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.