Another big name player is getting his option turned down. The Cowboys have informed Leighton Vander Esch‘s agent that they won’t be picking up the fifth-year option on the linebacker, Jane Slater of NFL Network tweets.
That means Vander Esch is now set to be a free agent after this season. What it doesn’t mean however is that the Cowboys no longer view the Boise State product in their future plans. Instead, Slater writes that the decision was “due to ongoing salary-cap uncertainty” and that the Cowboys “instead hope to sign Leighton to a contract extension before his current deal expires.”
Picking up the option would’ve fully guaranteed LVE $9.145MM for 2022, a steep price considering he’s missed 13 games due to injury the past two seasons. Dallas drafting Micah Parsons in the first-round this past week provided the writing on the wall for this decision, even if the team insists they still want to keep Vander Esch around.
Vander Esch was the 19th overall pick of the 2018 draft. He made the Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro as a rookie, but his last two seasons have been disappointing.
As a rookie, he had 140 tackles, seven passes defended, and two interceptions. In 2020 he had only 60 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and no passes defended in 10 games. He only turned 25 in February, and will have the chance to secure an even bigger payday if he can have a strong 2021 campaign.
Sign with the Bears Vander Esch
WHOAAAAAAAAAAAAA
are the injures really that bad?
Yeah… He’s practically Sean Lee part 2.
Didn’t they draft 2 LBs? Cox from LSU as well I believe. Plus they signed Keanu Neal and said he would be playing LB in sub packages. Still got Jaylen Smith. Makes sense then.
Saints should be all over this sugar glass.
They were good when he played and historically bad when he was hurt last year. I get the injury history but he’s good when healthy. This is the problem in Dallas. Pay the offensive players and let all the defensive players walk. If it’s a revolving door on defense then drafting a few good defenders isn’t going to change anything 🙁
And I hope this one walks too!
Both starting linebackers are full of themselves!!
Hit the road
They were historically bad when he played last year year as well. Vander Esch looked terrible last year when he played and plus the nagging injuries. This is actually a good decision by the FO.
This is what I said a few days ago. Decline and try to extend instead. 9.14M is too steep for him and his injury history. If they can work out like a 4/30M with 15M guaranteed, maybe some incentives.
What Jerry Jones said, “we hope to sign him to a contract extension””
What Jerry meant, “ I have to pay my QB $40+ million next year, and still have to pay my RB, WR DE and Others a boatload, so somebody has to go”
Phins make the call
This guy has NE written all over him. Not to begin this season or even play for them in 2021.. I see him as a reclamation project playing some sort of hybrid role for NE in 2022.
A former 1st rounder is the first criteria to catch BB’s eye (if he were cut i meant)..