Cowboys Projected to Move on From Ex-Pro Bowler in 2024

The Dallas Cowboys could make a move to stretch their salary cap this offseason after holding onto a veteran for several years.

As Bleacher Report’s Christopher Knox suggests , Leighton Vander Esch, who has been a member of the Cowboys since being drafted in 2018, could become a victim of the cap this season. Knox lists three Cowboys players as potential cap victims, with Vander Esch being the second name he mentioned.

Vander Esch has a $4.4 million cap hit this season, but has dealt with several neck injuries during his career. To make matters worse, he suffered another neck injury five games later, putting him on injured reserve and ending his season.

“Vander Esch landed on injured reserve with a neck injury after playing in just five games,” Knox writes. “Although still relatively young, Vander Esch is nowhere near as productive and reliable as the 27-year-old who was a Rookie Pro Bowler in 2018. Releasing Vander Esch outright at or before the start of free agency could result in dead cap hit. He has $2.3 million off the books in 2023, with $2.5 million off the books.”

History of neck injuries could lead to Cowboy move

The 27-year-old linebacker has been a starter since his rookie season in 2018, and his outstanding play earned him a Pro Bowl bid. Vander Esch recorded 140 tackles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions (numbers yet to be matched) in his rookie season, ranking third in combined tackles and second in individual tackles (102).

Vander Esch had a rough go right after his rookie season. The Cowboys opted out of the fifth-year option on Vander Esch’s rookie contract for 2021. But he bounced back with productive campaigns in 2021 and 2022 and the Cowboys brought him back. He re-signed him at the end of each season. The issue is durability and history of neck injuries. Vander Esch has suffered season-ending neck injuries in four of his six years in the NFL. Jerry Jones expressed concern about Leighton Vander Esch’s injury.

Team owner Jerry Jones expressed concern about Vander Esch’s career progression due to his long history of neck injuries.

“He’s an integral part of our left defense,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas in November. “We wish him well, and the essence of his injuries can actually think beyond the meaning of next week or next month and beyond its meaning. It has everything related to his best concern. ”

According to Pro Football Focus, Vander ESCH scored 65.5 defense before he was injured this season. Its replacement, exchange rate, 79.9 are placed in a much better indicator.

Bell – The previous unknown free agent, who finished the second season – will play less than $ 1 million next season. He started all 12 games with a midline, and after Wanderer injury and read 94 times, the team is in second place. Everyone who wants to clean with cowboys can do so to extend the contract, which is necessary for this season. Given that Vansh Esch is ambiguous, he is amazing when he is not. You can end with your first career in Dallas.