There were mixed reviews when the Dallas Cowboys made Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch the 19th overall selection in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft late last month. The 22-year old is expected to be the Cowboys’ starter at middle linebacker, bookended by third-year defender Jaylon Smith and longtime veteran Sean Lee.
The Cowboys felt it was necessary to add Vander Esch to their linebacker corps after losing Anthony Hitchens to the Kansas City Chiefs via free agency earlier this offseason. Combine that with injury concerns surrounding both Smith and Lee as starters, and the position was a vital one for Dallas to fill in the draft.