Former Pro Bowl Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch Staying With Cowboys

Leighton Vander Esch is staying with the Cowboys, at least for the 2022 season. The former first-round pick has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Dallas, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. 

The 19th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Vander Esch has made 46 regular season starts for the Cowboys at inside linebacker. A Pro Bowler in 2018, Vander Esch has recorded 349 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and 12 passes defensed during his first four seasons with the Cowboys. Last season, Vander Esch recorded 77 tackles and an interception while helping the Cowboys’ defense finish seventh in the NFL in points allowed. He played in 17 games last season after neck and collarbone injuries sidelined him for a combined 13 games the previous two seasons. 

It’s been a busy offseason for the Cowboys, who made the playoffs last season before falling to the 49ers in the NFC wild card round. Dallas traded former Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper to the Browns (along with a 2022 sixth-round pick) in exchange for fifth and sixth-round picks in next month’s draft. They also signed fellow receiver Michael Gallup to a long-term deal. The Cowboys made the surprising decision to release offensive tackle La’el Collins after initially trying to trade him. Collins has received considerable interest from the Bengals, who are in the process of building a stronger offensive line to better protect quarterback Joe Burrow. 

The biggest recent news involving the Cowboys took place earlier this week when pass rusher Randy Gregory signed with the Broncos after initially coming to terms on a contract with the Cowboys. Dallas will likely look to replace Gregory during the draft. The Cowboys are also expecting to use Micah Parsons more as an edge rusher next season, which was one of the reasons why the team decided to re-sign Vander Esch.