With the 19th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Leighton Vander Esch, linebacker from Boise State. When the Cowboys lost Anthony Hitchens in free agency, linebacker became a big need. Vander Esch is an athletic marvel, part of the new-breed of lighter, faster linebackers that can chase sideline-to-sideline. He should immediately slide into the rotation with Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith.
Vander Esch is a loose-hipped, instinctive linebacker who played in 2017 like he had a GPS tracker on the football. His production totals against both the run and pass are rare for being a first-year starter and with a frame that is primed for more muscle, his NFL ceiling is high.