Cowboys double down on a savvy bet from last season
Former first-round pick gets a new deal.
It's been a busy day for the Dallas Cowboys when it comes to retaining their in-house free agents.
After signing safety Donovan Wilson to a three-year deal on Tuesday, the Cowboys are bringing back linebacker Leighton Vander Esch on a two-year contract worth $11 million.
The Cowboys declined the fifth-year option on Vander Esch before the 2021 season. He would record 77 tackles, an interpretation, and a sack as he played in all 17 games with 16 starts.
Vander Esch got a one-year deal out of it for the 2022 campaign, and he didn't disappoint.
The former first-round pick finished second on the Cowboys with 90 tackles, and he did so in 14 games.
It's never been a question of ability with Vander Esch, he just had to stay healthy (missed 13 games in 2019 and 2020 due to multiple injuries). Now, he gets to continue to show that he can be a valuable piece to defensive coordinator Dan Quinn's defense.
