Dallas Cowboys draft Leighton Vander Esch: Instant grade and analysis

The Dallas Cowboys selected Leighton Vander Esch with the 19th-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Here’s all you need to know about Vander Esch.

Strengths

The third season at Boise State proved to be the charm for the 6’4”, 256-pound defender. After playing in only eight contests as a freshman in 2015 and just six games one year later, Vander Esch exploded onto the scene this past year. He totaled 141 stops (including 8.5 tackles for losses), four sacks and a pair of interceptions.

The highly-productive performer also added five passes defensed while forcing four fumbles in earning 2017 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors. He has ideal size for the position and has the potential to make an enormous impact in his rookie season.

Weaknesses

So is Vander Esch a player on the rise or perhaps simply a one-season wonder? He played 14 games this past year, equaling the total of his first two years in college. The numbers in terms of interceptions and pass deflections seem to indicate he can handle coverage responsibilities in the NFL but his lack of overall experience still has to be a concern for teams looking for instant results.

It’s not unprecedented to see a player suddenly come into his own in one year but is Vander Esch primed to be a long-term success story. And after missing substantial during each of his first two seasons, is the talented prospect an injury risk as well?

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Grade

Grade: B-

Vander Esch is a nice talent and could fit in nicely next to Sean Lee, effectively replacing Anthony Hitchens. Still, the Cowboys have a litany of needs — including wide receiver – -and passed on the top-tier talents there for a linebacker.