Dallas Cowboys: Rookie living up to lofty draft status

It seems it’s very rare when a high draft selection is able to live up to the enormous hype. But this Dallas Cowboys rookie is impressing everyone early.

It was very clear in this year’s draft process that the Dallas Cowboys really liked Boise State linebacker, Leighton Vander Esch. Physically, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound defender who showcased 4.65 speed was extremely impressive. His sideline to sideline play at his size was considered special.

But Vander Esch was just a one-year starter at Boise State. And his background in eight-man football only fostered questions about his ability to play on the NFL level. And despite perceived bigger needs on the Cowboys roster like wide receiver and safety, Dallas opted to make Vander Esch their first-round selection, 19th overall, in the 2018 NFL Draft.

One of the main reasons the Cowboys pulled the trigger on a first-round linebacker is due to the fact their two-time Pro Bowler at the position, Sean Lee has a troubling injury history. And out of the five games Lee missed in 2017, Dallas lost four of them.

The presence of Vander Esch combined with the improving health of former second-rounder Jaylon Smith, the Cowboys figured they could better withstand an injury-plagued season from Lee. And that has proven to be true through the team’s first six games of the 2018 regular season.

Lee has been out since Week Four with a hamstring injury. In his place, Vander Esch and Smith have shined. Posting a combined 101 tackles so far this season, these two young linebackers are among the best in the NFL. Vander Esch actually ranks sixth (tied) in the league in solo tackles with 39.

The 22-year old has proven to be one of the surest tacklers in the NFL so far this season. Here’s what Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus wrote about the rookie linebacker’s abilities as a tackler and in coverage.

"“Zone coverages put a premium on closing quickly and wrapping up in space like this. So far on the season, Vander Esch has one lone missed tackle on 28 attempts in coverage. That innate balance in space is impossible to teach and there really isn’t much the rookie hasn’t shown the ability to do at this point.”"

PFF actually has Leighton Vander Esch ranked as the third highest graded linebacker in the league so far this season. It seems rare when a first-round selection is able to live up to his massive draft hype. Just look at the Dallas Cowboys 2017 first round selection, defensive end Taco Charlton, for an example of that. But Vander Esch is proving he was the exact right choice for the Cowboys and his play is helping them field a top ten defense.

For more grades, advanced statistics and more at Pro Football Focus, subscribe to PFF’s EDGE or ELITE subscriptions at ProFootballFocus.com.