Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch cracks NFL’s Top 100

The Dallas Cowboys’ vindication of the selection of Leighton Vander Esch continues as last year’s rookie linebacker cracks the NFL’s Top 100 list.

At this time last year, fans of the Dallas Cowboys had their doubts about Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. Despite having more pressing needs, specifically at wide receiver following the release of Dez Bryant, the Cowboys made Vander Esch their first-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, 19th overall.

And despite the fact the team’s desperate need at receiver would force the Cowboys to trade away their 2019 first-rounder to the Oakland Raiders’  for Amari Cooper midseason, the play of Vander Esch has since vindicated the high selection.

Leading the team with 140 combined tackles as a rookie, Vander Esch emerged as one of the top defenders in the NFL last season. Even earning himself a Pro Bowl nomination in the process. The Wolf Hunter’s presence, combined with ascending play of Jaylon Smith, has made the Cowboys’ linebacker corps the envy of every other team in the league.

And the accolades for Vander Esch keep coming. This week, the league has started to slowly reveal their Top 100 Players of 2019 list. NFL players themselves cast votes for who believe are the best of the best heading into the upcoming season. And Vander Esch landed on that list at No. 74.

Here’s what NFL.com’s Logan Reardon wrote about Vander Esch’s election to this prominent list after a stellar rookie campaign.

"“The Cowboys’ 2018 first-rounder proved to be one of the top linebackers in the league and was rewarded as a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro. Vander Esch had a knack for finding the ball carrier, finishing second in the league with 102 solo tackles … This is a player who should be a mainstay in the Top 100 for years to come.”"

In just 11 starts last season, Vander Esch was able to amass a stat-line of 140 tackles, seven pass defends and two interceptions. His presence helped the Cowboys field the sixth-best scoring defense in the NFL in 2018, allowing just 20.3 points per game to opposing offenses.

The election of Leighton Vander Esch to the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2019 list by his peers is just more vindication for the Dallas Cowboys. Despite their other needs, the Cowboys recognized early on that Vander Esch would be a special player. And a year later, the entire league seems to agree with that assessment.