The Cowboys took linebacker Leighton Vander Esch with the No. 19 pick overall in the NFL Draft on Thursday night.
Vander Esch had become a popular first-round pick for the Cowboys in recent mock drafts. The Boise State linebacker was one of Dallas' pre-draft visitors.
While at The Star, Vander Esch got a chance to spend some time with Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli.
"He's an awesome dude," Vander Esch said Wednesday after a youth football clinic outside of AT&T Stadium. "He's definitely a character. He put a smile on my face the second I talked to him.