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The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly moving on from linebacker Dee Winters.
The 49ers are trading Winters to the Dallas Cowboys, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, who reported that Dallas is acquiring the linebacker to address a “huge need” at the position. Schultz later added that San Francisco will receive a fifth-round pick in exchange for Winters.
For the 49ers, this is not just a throwaway draft-week move. Winters started 17 games last season and gave San Francisco legitimate defensive snaps, but the trade suggests the 49ers viewed him as more valuable as a draft asset than as part of their 2026 linebacker rotation.
The move also gives San Francisco another pick during a draft in which the franchise has already shown a willingness to maneuver for extra capital.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson