Dallas Cowboys 2018 NFL Draft: Pick-by-Pick analysis

Round 1, Pick # 19
Leighton Vander Esch, LB – Boise State

Pros

Vander Esch absolutely fit a need for this team after the Dallas Cowboys lost Anthony Hitchens in free agency.  By drafting Vander Esch, not only do the Cowboys get to keep Sean Lee at his natural weak side spot, they also have position flexibility.  Both he and Jaylon Smith are capable of playing middle or strong side linebacker.  Vander Esch can actually play all three spots if the unfortunate injury with either Lee or Smith occurs.

Depending on your particular need and/or preferable style, he was the best available player at a position of need for this team.  That’s pretty hard to argue against.

Cons

It’s been 12 years but some people still have PTSD over the selection of Bobby Carpenter with the 18th pick in 2006.  It won’t help things to mention they are almost the exact same height and weight.  They also had the exact same results during their bench press, 40-yard dash and three cone drill efforts.

Both Derwin James and fellow linebacker Trumaine Edmunds saw an unexpected slip in their draft status and yet Dallas chose to do nothing and draft Vander Esch anyway.

Final Analysis

Vander Esch is not Carpenter, despite some eery similarities.  He’s much better in the passing game and doesn’t seem scared of contact.  Carpenter never really seemed interested in being a football player while Vander Esch loves being an athlete.  There were no rumors of Dallas turning down offers for their pick.  Clearly, they didn’t feel the need to move up either which means they were locked in on him.  In conclusion, this is a solid pick based on who already was chosen and the marriage of fit and talent.